I am not a runner. I have always hated running. For some odd reason, I thought I could overcome this and went out for track in seventh grade, but I wasn’t fast enough to be a sprinter, and when it came to distance—did I mention I hate running?
A vague desire to run have completed a 5K, however, somehow lodged itself into my mind about five years ago. I put it on my list of things to do before I die. And I ain’t getting any younger.
So this is the year, I decided. I set a goal back in January, but I was waylaid by an injury early on. I’ve been back at it, though, for eight weeks now, and I’m up to running over two miles at a time.
It was early on, though, that I learned an important key to running anything longer than a sprint—don’t run. I was trying to work my way up, so I started off by running one lap (<1/6 of a mile). I was so completely winded that I wondered if maybe this wasn’t something I should do, if I was just one of those people who wasn’t meant to run.
Then I realized—I don’t have to run this hard. I’m not trying to set a record here. I just want to finish this race. So instead of flat-out running, I started trying to jog. At the slower pace, I could suddenly run (well, jog) for longer and longer distances. Instead of getting winded and discouraged, I was challenging myself and making progress.
If you haven’t already seen the parallels to motherhood, let me point them out to you—there are no prizes for cleanest house, quietest kids in church (though maybe there ought to be on that one), most extracurriculars (for moms or kids). Pushing ourselves or our families to maximum capacity all the time just wears us down.
But we don’t have to give up. We can still run that we might obtain the prize—time to enjoy together, time to enjoy one another. If we slow down and take the time to enjoy our children and our lives in the narrow slice of now, suddenly we can go just as far or farther.
How have you slowed your pace to finish the race?
5 replies on “Run that ye may obtain”
Great advice–and something that I think a lot of us know in the back of our minds but tend to forget.
I’m with ya there on the running. When Eric and I first got engaged, I was training for a marathon. Getting engaged was brutal on my training schedule because I would much rather sit and be with Eric than gear up for a run. So one night he came with me. Bad idea. He doesn’t get winded. Doesn’t get tired. and here I was the one training for the marathon and I was the one struggling to get in my “zone” because running is so rough… and Eric says “don’t slow down for my sake” trying to let me know that I could do my regular run. What he didn’t realize was that that WAS my regular pace! And I was already winded! So. This also has application for parenthood. All he needs is a little tinkering with some abandoned speakers or some tools while listening to lectures on his headphones… and he’s good to go! Sometimes I need more sleep than Eric does. (often, actually. You remember those crazy college days, right Jordan? 🙂 and I definitely need more rejuvenation time in the garden or outside or reading a good book or making some delicious recipe (as long as I can do it in peace. It isn’t very rejuvenating if there is a crying baby distracting me!) EVERY DAY to keep my sanity. And I need social interaction with neighbors and friends. Blogs, too, are helpful. 🙂 Ultimately though, taking time to enjoy the beauty around me helps so much. If I can just putter in the garden for an hour in the evening after Gwen is asleep and enjoy the birds, the breeze, and the seeds pushing up through the soil… *sigh*. that’s all I need to keep perspective, I think. 🙂
I am one of those people who is not meant to run. I am meant to swim. It is a much more fluid, easy motion. I like to think I live my life that way too, at least most of the time. I do have to give myself time outs to remind myself to slow down sometimes. Congrats on your running progress. I’m sure you will be able to meet your goal.
This is EXACTLY my running style – and I have set the goal to run a 5K before my birthday in October. Unfortunately it’s over 100 degrees in AZ and I’m not getting any training in. As far as relating this to parenting… I agree. The best slowing down attitude for me is remembering that I can start fresh every day with my kids. No matter that I lost my temper yesterday, or forgot to read scriptures with them, or brush their teeth. Today is a new day. They love me only as little children can love their imperfect mothers, and every morning I can try harder to be a better mother.
What a powerful analogy. And eventually I, too, want to run a 5K. I work out quite often, but running is not my thing … yet 🙂 !!