Last week at this time I was celebrating an incredible day with a lot of you at the Run with Trish 5k for Team Hoyt. As I said in the earlier post…it was a day that will never be forgotten. God showed up in a grand way. It was such an honor to have so many show up to support such a great cause.
Due to the race being on Saturday, I knew I would have to do my long run on Sunday. We were slotted for 18. Mentally, I was not in it at all. Yoli and I went back and forth on what day would be best…Sunday or Monday. We went for Sunday. We headed off to Helicopter Park in Soddy to get our run on.
As we drove up, I saw one of my new friends(who I met because of the Run with Trish 5k) running around the track. We joined her for a lap and then went off on our own. It was a joy to see her again! Her story is also one of perseverance and determination. She has lost 90 pounds on her own…and did it by running. Yay! She ran her first 1/2 marathon at the Scenic City and her daughter ran her 1st 5k at our race. How special!!! Anyway, she is an inspiration!
After we ran with her we headed off on our own for our 18. At mile 2, Yoli started walking. Yoli never walks…so I knew something was up. It turns out, she has 2 stress fractures from over use. I told you she was a machine. Of course, she wanted to try to keep me going so she said keep going and I will be okay. We ran back to the park and I finished up 7 miles with my new friend. 7 was better than nothing, right? Yoli is taking it easy for awhile. She is still my hero.
So, I text my trainer hoping to get by with 7 for my long one…but no, I had to go for 18 on Monday. YUCK! But thankfully, two other dear friends offered to help me through it. And help me through it they did. I struggled. It hurt!! I wanted to quit, walk, and collapse. They kept me going!!! They stepped in for Yoli…b/c earlier that day we found out she was done running and riding for 4 weeks…no fun for her (or me!) 😉 They were my iron…
Proverbs 27.17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 11.25 – A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
They were also fresh air beneath my wings when I needed it. Thanks, Nancy and Shannon! You two will prosper because of your generosity! 🙂
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
After Monday’s hard run I was on my own all week. I was able to take in new sites with new routes. I don’t look forward to going back to my old stomping grounds without my running buddy. 😉 I needed some refreshing too. Downtown was one area I ran…it was so nice to see everyone out and about. It made the miles fly by. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
Philemon 1.7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,
because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
I needed the refresher from the Lord. I needed to see and hear Him on this day. I had struggled mightily the day before and needed to sense Him. I did.
After this great run, I was able to visit the Chattanooga Track Club meeting. They presented me with checks from individual members for the Hoyt Foundation. These generous donations along with several from my amazing church, brought my total to $8068. God broke through the goal of $5000 and showed up big time. He is showing His power in numbers…literally! I was in first place in fundraising for one day…
Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply
all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
God is truly blessing this journey, as I have said over and over again. I am humbled on honored to be the feet to be able to run it…even when my feet are killing me. God has a purpose for all of us. Let’s take that leap of faith and find out what it is. Take from me…it is WELL worth being on the journey with HIM! It is fun! It is rewarding! It is HARD! It is worth it! It is life-changing…
Today I had to do 15 miles. Nancy and Shannon met me again. We saw a beautiful lightning storm on the way to the run. We sat and waited it out and God provided a perfect day for a river run. Warm enough…cool enough to be comfortable. Wet enough…dry enough to be okay and not soaked. Crisp and clear enough to heighten the senses to His beauty around. I finished 13.1 with the girls and had 2 more to do on my own. I felt so good I kept going and did 17. God knew what I needed here too. I needed to feel good enough after a 15 mile run to keep going. 🙂 My husband asked me, “are you a glutton for punishment?” No, I just was filling my mental gas tank with some extra fuel for days like Monday. What a week can do…it can transform a mind from I can’t do this to YES, I CAN!
Running blessed and for HIM!
Trish 🙂
29 days and counting…..
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