TheRunningRev.Com

Running Thought

With just about 11 weeks to go to the Virginia Beach, Rock and Roll Half Marathon I suppose its time to start a more formal training program. I've been running between 20 and 25 miles a week since the Marathon in April and have managed to keep a long run of between 8 and 12 miles each week since then as well.

I'm working hard on my time averaging better than 8 minute miles on all my short runs and between 8 and 8:20 minute miles on the long runs. I'm looking forward to getting to Ireland at the end of next week, it will be a pleasant break to be able to train in cooler (60-70 degree) weather for a few weeks instead of the stifling heat of Northern Virginia.

One final thought... I'm still about 30 seconds a mile faster than Jenny! Sorry dear.

Fair Weather Runner/Chirstian

All week I had planned for a long run of 12 miles on Sunday afternoon. I was looking forward to a little quiet time, nothing but the sound of my feet hitting the pavement and the thoughts in my own head. Then Sunday rolled around and it was raining, it was raining when I went to worship, it was raining when I got home, it was raining after lunch. What would I do?

I could have run on the treadmill but anything over 5 miles on the treadmill I find desperately boring, so I decided to put on my running shoes and head out into the inclement weather for a 12 mile run! As I started running I found myself wondering if I was a fair weather runner or if I would run no matter what the conditions where? As the rain fell on me and I slowly became soaked to the skin I found myself really enjoying the challenge of keeping pace in spite of the weather.

As I ran further I started to think about whether I was a fair weather follower of Jesus, following him only when the weather was good and the conditions are right but not bothering about being his follower when it didn't seem prudent or the winds of life where blowing in a direction that it would cost me something to be his disciple. (Yes even pastors have these kinds of thoughts)

After an 12 miles of running at an 8:12 pace I had concluded once again that I wanted, needed, to be a follower of Jesus Christ no matter what circumstances life throws at me.

When I run I can always return to the treadmill during inclement weather but I don't want to run and go nowhere! In my walk with Christ, I can always retreat from the world and fill my time in the Christian sub-culture but that does nothing to fulfill the Great Commission and usher in the Kingdom of God. It's like running on a treadmill, OK for occasional training purposes but not the real thing.

Let's get our there and live our lives for Christ in the real world, the messy world, the world that was loved so much that the Son of God died for it. May we learn to have the heart of God and not be fair weather followers of Jesus.