5K!

I ran (and walked) a 5K on Saturday. A few months ago I planned for this event - I made up a calendar chart (oooh I so LOVE a good chart with pictures all nice and neat!) with my training plan - what I needed to run each week, culminating in being able to run for 30 minutes. It was a doable plan, and I was quite proud of myself because in addition to planning for this 5K I was also planning to turn 40. Rather than being anxious about the big four-O I decided that I wanted to have run 3 races in my 30s - this was one of the last weekends to get that all-important 3rd race in - I also talked it up with all my friends and family, so I had to do it to save face! Week after week I did my best to stay on my training plan - even running while I was down in FL for Sarah's wedding. I had my favorite verses in mind:

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. 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.

- Hebrews 12:1-2

I love this passage for a number of reasons:

1. A great cloud of witnesses - this gets me pumped up because I think of people in a stadium watching and cheering me on.. they want me to succeed - they have finished their races and now they are helping me finish mine... I believe these witnesses are those already in heaven, the faithful ones who have lived their lives for Jesus and are now awaiting the finale - when Jesus returns to earth to gather up His bride, and then we have the wedding feast of the Lamb... ooohh how exciting!
2. throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles - can't you just see someone running and casting off chains and heavy belts and then feeling so free?!? the chains and shackles were hindering the person, they couldn't take a big step - but once they threw off those things then they were free to run in perfect stride - and they felt so light and.. free! I also love the description of the sin that so easily entangles - like a vine - starts small at first and kinda looks pretty, but before you know it that vine is wrapped around your neck and starting to choke you.. so cut that vine and be done with it!
   
3. run with perseverance the race marked out for us - "run" - don't walk.. "with perseverance" - it's gonna be tough, but hang in there - keep running - you may have to slow your pace, but keep going.. "the race marked out for us" - there was forethought - it isn't a surprise to God what we are going thru - He set up the course - He set the boundaries - He has rest stops and water startions and cheerleaders for us along the way. And He knows that we can do it - He marked out a race for us that He knew we could finish.. He didn't set us up to fail, but to succeed - to WIN!
   
4. fix our eyes on Jesus - my training plan has been time-based, so I have been fixing my eyes on my watch - how many minutes have I been running, how long til I can stop and walk a bit... they say you should fixate on something in the distance - say I am going to run to that tree - helps you to have a reference point.. Jesus is that to us - remembering who He Is, what He did and how much He loves us... nothing better to fix our eyes on that Him!
   

While I wasn't able to run the race without stopping to walk, I did cross the finish line. I trained, and showed up on race day. And I got that 3rd 5K completed in my 30s... Good for me! I'll bet that great cloud of witnesses was rooting for me - wonder if they did "the wave"? :)