To God be the Glory….Great things He hath done! (update…)

To God be the Glory for today’s run! He was there every step of the way! We did it!

We qualified for Boston!  God, Yoli and I ran Tupelo, Mississippi country roads together today!  Yoli and I started out fast…of course.We kept a great pace through the 1/2 way point.  Around mile 14 I was on my own to experience the light of the morning alone with my thoughts and prayers.  I ran this marathon with NO distractions…no music.

I heard things  I hadn’t heard.  I felt things I hadn’t felt. I ran in a way I hadn’t run! I did it!

Here is the rundown:

God showed up first with Mike’s prayer of protection to lead us off on the right foot.

Secondly, God showed up with the fellow runners we met along the way.

~Dwayne from Tupelo

~OSU Cowboy with an African accent

~Two ladies from Bolivar, TN running to qualify for Boston

~The numerous runners wishing us good luck and saying good job once we made the turn around at 13.

~The race director who gave me a hug once he realized I qualified for Boston in his race.

~The fellow Arkansans running along side me as well as keeping Mike company.  He found a friend and it turns out I ran with her during a training run in Hot Springs over the summer…didn’t even know! How cool is that??

Thirdly, God showed up with the sights and sounds.  This was a great country course. We had everything on this run we normally do on our training runs. The only thing we missed was a donkey greeting us with “Hee Haw!”   We had the horses,the water, my car…(Mike drove to the half way point after a McDonald’s breakfast), the rolling hills, the hay fields.  We also heard the other runners. Their feet hitting the ground.  No music opens up a whole new world. 🙂  I had a head lamp attached to my belt at the beginning so we ran in a pack to start off. My light (or His light) led the way for many.

Finally God showed up with answered prayers…misting rain for 2 1/2 hours of the 3:48…pouring rain from tropical storm Lee started coming down the last 2 miles…just to mix things up! Great weather for the most part.  He provided a great running partner, Yoli Bell. She continued to guide me with her words and her encouragement. God provided strength through prayers from you all from Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina…maybe more. I felt them…especially mile 17 on…my legs did not want to go on…so your prayers helped me each step of the way!  And finally…

I QUALIFIED…I ran across the finish line to meet my husband in a bear hug with a THUD! As soon as his arms went around me, my legs buckled.  I was soooo tired and soooo excited I couldn’t stand.  He was my target! I hit it! Woo hoo! My official time was 3:48:59.  I finished 2nd in my age group…in a marathon! I finished 8th overall women…in a marathon! Granted…it was a smaller one…but I did it!!! Thank you Lord!

As I ran the last 12 alone…I had many of your words of encouragement rolling through my head.  We passed a church with 2 Chronicles 7-14 listed on its marquee.   “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 7.3b. His love and strength endures forever and carried me through.

Thank you to everyone who has followed this journey.  The Boston qualifying mailbox was passed in a great way today! 3 minutes better than my run in June.  Now, I am at the mercy of the Boston Marathon admission process.  I qualified so close to the cut off time I will have to wait until day 7 to register.  This can only happen IF there are spots open.  So, this means that though I qualified, I may not get into 2012 Boston.  You have to re-qualify every year.  We will take this journey one step at a time as well.  God willing I will run 2012 Boston…if not I am still a Boston Qualifier! To God Be the glory..GREAT things HE hath done!!!

Hebrews 12.1-2

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

To God Be the Glory

Text: Fanny J. Crosby  Music: William H. Doane 

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!

So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

to every believer the promise of God;

the vilest offender who truly believes,

that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,

and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;

but purer, and higher, and greater will be

our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory, great things he hath done!