This summer God has been dealing with me when it comes to busyness and/or craziness. These two words have been used as adjectives to describe me a lot lately! Wow! I know that everyone who uses these to describe me are doing it in jest…but there is so much truth to both. Are they bad descriptions? Yes and no! Yes, when they get in the way of what should be my main priority. No, when they are in line with God’s will for my life! So, these two words got me thinking, contemplating and re-examining where I am in line with His will and calling on my life. (I know-thinking, contemplating and re-examining can be considered crazy and scary!)
So today, my devotional was titled BUSYNESS. HMMM! And then the above picture was posted online. I do believe the busyness gets in the way more times than not. I figured this would be the best time to meet it head on. All summer I have said once I have a chance to slow down I would make a ‘new’ plan for how I say yes and no to things in front of me. One thing I read earlier this summer on a blog or post was to make sure all things are God-initiated. Not all things I am busy with are bad…there are just way too many of them. 🙂 When that happens I neglect my quiet time with God. I neglect my family. I fall down on my job. It’s like running with too many ‘things/gadgets’ on me – it slows me down and make me inefficient/ineffective! I don’t want that. I want God to have my best, my family to have my best and my job to have my best.
Where does this leave me? It leaves me learning to BE STILL. The Lord says He will fight for me if I am still…Who wouldn’t want Him on his or her side?
Exodus 14.14 –The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Here’s to being still and saying no unless it is God-initiated.
Now to the crazy claim! Yes, I am FULL ON CRAZY! 16 years ago, God gave me the desire to run…for fun. 🙂 6 years ago, God gave me the desire to run faster…not always fun…but rewarding. Then 11 months ago, I was introduced to CrossFit and my whole world did turn CRAZY! (At least that is what I am being told, over and over and over again!) But, I disagree. I found something that helped me realize God’s potential for my body. He designed us to MOVE! He designed our bodies to be fueled well with what He has provided and to move well with His incredible design. I have seen results unlike any other time in my life. Why? I now see my body as His temple and treat it as such. (Body image has been a struggle for me my whole life – this has finally taken hold – I am HIS and I need to glorify Him with ALL things!…this is another whole blog post!)
Now, that I am finally putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together, I am seeing results. My body has responded very well to eating healthy – His way! It has also responded well to moving in different ways – running and performing high-intensity functional movements several times a week. My running performance has improved because of the combination of it all. I am so excited about this! Why? Because as His plan would have it …I have the amazing opportunity to run the Chicago Marathon AND the New York Marathon this fall. I deferred my entry to Chicago last year due to burn out and injury. It was the best thing I could have done because that is when CrossFit and CrossFit Endurance found me. I am a new runner now. I run better and more efficiently….hence the better performance.
Chicago and New York are both part of the World Majors. The WMM is a series consisting of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago and TCS New York City Marathon. I have done London and Boston. After November 1st, I will have done Chicago and New York. I will have Tokyo and Berlin left. God planted this seed a very long time ago when I was just running for fun. This was way before I realized He was going to use running as part of my ministry for Him.
Running has been God-initiated from the beginning…way before I realized it. With that being said…this blog will now be about my journey to Chicago and beyond. thenextmailboxboston is taking me to Chicago first and on to a walk(because that is what I will be doing-3 weeks after Chicago) in New York’s Central Park. Will you join me on this God-given journey? I cant’ wait to see how this training season plays out.
Chicago training officially started today. Yay! This training plan will be done completely different from in the past. I will only run 4 days a week and will focus on quality runs vs. quantity. I am excited because there of my 3 other running angels who are running the Chicago Marathon as well. We will be in this together. i2 – Iron Sharpens Iron!
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27.17
Today was day one of training. Day one is done and in the books. I am going to keep a simple journal to keep track of my times so I can report back to my coach. I am also going to document here for accountability purposes. Some days I just don’t want to run. Now I will have more eyes on whether or not I do it. 🙂 i2!
Here is the week’s schedule:
Tuesday – 10 x 200 meter repeats with 300 meter recovery – DONE!
Thursday – 5k @ 85% of 10k pace
Wednesday or Friday – 6 x 800 meter repeats with 2 minute rest
Saturday – 5k time trial
Here’s to a great day looking forward to a great first week and an awesome 12 weeks!
Running Blessed and to Glorify HIM every step of the way! Trish
Habakkuk 2.2-3 – My training passage!
Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.…
thenextmailboxboston 