Endurance: "the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina"
Ten weeks ago, I would have told you I'm not a runner. I never really have been. I run (sometimes), but I'm not one of those people who can't wait to get out a run a few miles. I'm ok at short distances, but the thought of doing the same thing for hours on end (like running a marathon) sounds boring to me. Ten weeks ago, I would have told you I have no endurance. When things get tough-I stop. I don't like to push through the pain. But when I don't allow myself to go through the pain, I don't get the rewards that follow.
No, I don't like to run. So ten week ago, what did I do? I went and committed to running in the Ragnar Relay Race. For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either), it's a 200 mile, 12-person relay race. The race starts Friday morning and goes continuously through the night until Saturday evening when your team finishes. So there's one person from your team running at all times. Each member runs 2 daytime legs and 1 nighttime leg. So when I was asked to join this all-woman team my friend got together, what's the first word that came to mind? CRAZY!!!! But the 2nd was Endurance. Maybe this was my chance to build some. To have a goal and reach it. To learn the lessons that come "in the hard times" of training and have the joy to know that I had the endurance to finish.
As I was thinking about this concept of Endurance, I thought of motherhood. I don't know if there's ever a "finish" with being a mom. But I think being able to endure the sleepless nights, constant whining, arguing, and tattling is a victory in itself! Learning that in the tough times is when I get to teach someone else about Jesus' love, or grace, or forgiveness. I'm not a teacher that stands up in front of a room of students, or a minister who preaches to a congregation, but through my very captive audience of 3, God still gives me a chance to share what He has taught me. God WANTS us to endure. So for you mammas out there who are just tired and are lacking what it takes to endure, Perk UP!! THIS is what God has called you to do. He wants you to thrive and not fail. He wants you to be the best mom you can be-and when you don't have anymore to give, let Him take over.
So as I've been training for this race, I've already learned some things. My endurance is improving. The first time I ran with our Saturday morning group, I went 4 miles- stopping at least 3 times to walk and 2 of those times I puked. Yep, stopped on the side of the road, embarrassed myself, and then kept going. My longest run so far now is 9 miles!!! That's a personal best for me! AND, there was no puking involved :) So sometimes, in our "race" of motherhood, we'll get embarrassed, do things wrong, and generally screw things up. But that's ok- keep going! When you're faced with those tough situations again, you'll know how to get through them with better outcomes.
I've also learned that it takes consistency. There is NO way I would've been able to finish 9 miles without intentionally scheduling out time to train, and sticking to it. Just like in motherhood, I have to be consistent in what I'm teaching and trying to show my kids. I have to be intentional in the way I interact with them daily.
The next thing I've learned is the only way I've been able to keep this running charade up is that I have cheerleaders. My biggest supporter is Mike, who I could not be doing this without. He's been so great in agreeing to let me leave on Saturday mornings, while he has to wake up early (his only day to usually sleep in) to take care of the kids, or agreeing to feed, bathe, and put to bed all the kids while I run at night. Or even made sure I have all the right equipment I need so I can be successful. And then I have my running friends. Who train me as I run and tell me what I need to be doing better, or who are there to push me to go a little faster, or who are there just to make conversation and distract me from the pain of the SoCal hills!! (They call them hills, I call them mountains!) Mommies need friends too. If you're feeling overwhelmed or tired, or depressed or whatever, find a friend.
I've also learned that on my runs (as short as they are), I need little breaks. Maybe walk every once in awhile, or take a drink, or eat one of those yummy energy jelly beans. And I DEFINITELY need breaks in motherhood! Recently I had an amazing break and got to go to Mexico for a whole week with Mike sans kids! My mom was a lifesaver and took over so we could go celebrate our 10 year anniversary. And the week before that my mother-in-law and Granny and Paw Paw came to visit. Talk about relief! More adults in the house than kids?! That doesn't happen very often. I got to do laundry, clean my room, and take a shower every day and not worry if one of the kids was doing something terrible in the other room!
As far as I'm concerned, I am still not a "runner" by any means. I run. And pant. And pray. And dry heave a little. And I finish, even though it's not pretty. But everytime I get out there and try again, I get a little stronger and gain a little more endurance. So this weekend is it! We'll see how up to par my endurance really is. I'm running Friday at 6am and 4:30 pm. And if you happen to be up Saturday morning at 2:30, you can call me! I'll be running my last leg and I'm sure I'll need someone to talk to me to keep me going :)
No, I don't like to run. So ten week ago, what did I do? I went and committed to running in the Ragnar Relay Race. For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either), it's a 200 mile, 12-person relay race. The race starts Friday morning and goes continuously through the night until Saturday evening when your team finishes. So there's one person from your team running at all times. Each member runs 2 daytime legs and 1 nighttime leg. So when I was asked to join this all-woman team my friend got together, what's the first word that came to mind? CRAZY!!!! But the 2nd was Endurance. Maybe this was my chance to build some. To have a goal and reach it. To learn the lessons that come "in the hard times" of training and have the joy to know that I had the endurance to finish.
As I was thinking about this concept of Endurance, I thought of motherhood. I don't know if there's ever a "finish" with being a mom. But I think being able to endure the sleepless nights, constant whining, arguing, and tattling is a victory in itself! Learning that in the tough times is when I get to teach someone else about Jesus' love, or grace, or forgiveness. I'm not a teacher that stands up in front of a room of students, or a minister who preaches to a congregation, but through my very captive audience of 3, God still gives me a chance to share what He has taught me. God WANTS us to endure. So for you mammas out there who are just tired and are lacking what it takes to endure, Perk UP!! THIS is what God has called you to do. He wants you to thrive and not fail. He wants you to be the best mom you can be-and when you don't have anymore to give, let Him take over.
So as I've been training for this race, I've already learned some things. My endurance is improving. The first time I ran with our Saturday morning group, I went 4 miles- stopping at least 3 times to walk and 2 of those times I puked. Yep, stopped on the side of the road, embarrassed myself, and then kept going. My longest run so far now is 9 miles!!! That's a personal best for me! AND, there was no puking involved :) So sometimes, in our "race" of motherhood, we'll get embarrassed, do things wrong, and generally screw things up. But that's ok- keep going! When you're faced with those tough situations again, you'll know how to get through them with better outcomes.
I've also learned that it takes consistency. There is NO way I would've been able to finish 9 miles without intentionally scheduling out time to train, and sticking to it. Just like in motherhood, I have to be consistent in what I'm teaching and trying to show my kids. I have to be intentional in the way I interact with them daily.
The next thing I've learned is the only way I've been able to keep this running charade up is that I have cheerleaders. My biggest supporter is Mike, who I could not be doing this without. He's been so great in agreeing to let me leave on Saturday mornings, while he has to wake up early (his only day to usually sleep in) to take care of the kids, or agreeing to feed, bathe, and put to bed all the kids while I run at night. Or even made sure I have all the right equipment I need so I can be successful. And then I have my running friends. Who train me as I run and tell me what I need to be doing better, or who are there to push me to go a little faster, or who are there just to make conversation and distract me from the pain of the SoCal hills!! (They call them hills, I call them mountains!) Mommies need friends too. If you're feeling overwhelmed or tired, or depressed or whatever, find a friend.
I've also learned that on my runs (as short as they are), I need little breaks. Maybe walk every once in awhile, or take a drink, or eat one of those yummy energy jelly beans. And I DEFINITELY need breaks in motherhood! Recently I had an amazing break and got to go to Mexico for a whole week with Mike sans kids! My mom was a lifesaver and took over so we could go celebrate our 10 year anniversary. And the week before that my mother-in-law and Granny and Paw Paw came to visit. Talk about relief! More adults in the house than kids?! That doesn't happen very often. I got to do laundry, clean my room, and take a shower every day and not worry if one of the kids was doing something terrible in the other room!
As far as I'm concerned, I am still not a "runner" by any means. I run. And pant. And pray. And dry heave a little. And I finish, even though it's not pretty. But everytime I get out there and try again, I get a little stronger and gain a little more endurance. So this weekend is it! We'll see how up to par my endurance really is. I'm running Friday at 6am and 4:30 pm. And if you happen to be up Saturday morning at 2:30, you can call me! I'll be running my last leg and I'm sure I'll need someone to talk to me to keep me going :)
