Sugarland Finished!

It was cold, It was wet, but I finished! I signed up for the Sugarland half marathon shortly after Michaela was born in order to motivate myself to get the baby weight off. Mission 1 accomplished. I set a rather lofty goal for myself to break my PR by 4 minutes. Mission 2, not accomplished. I was on track to at least meet my PR, but my hamstring started acting up around mile 10. Boo. I finished 4 minutes slower than my PR.

As most of you know, I love to run as it is my time to spend with the Lord. I ran the first half of the race with a good friend of mine, Shannon. We had agreed to run side by side, but to not do much talking so we could both focus. It was more for moral support and to set a good pace for both of us. As I found myself in the second half by myself, I began to wonder if I could keep my pace. I was praying, thinking of my Scripture and the one the Lord kept bringing to me was, "Lo I am with you, even until the end of the age."

Not too long after that a gentleman started running beside me. He was super nice and was in the process of running marathons in 50 states. As we chatted for a moment, he asked me if I was a believer, to which I said, "Of course." We talked about Scripture, which ones were our favorite. We talked about the assurance of salvation and the fact that the most important thing is that Jesus came, died and rose again for our sins! How awesome is that? We also sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I am sure the other runners loved me belting it out, especially since I can't carry a tune in the first place, and especially when I am gasping after running 12 miles. When my hamstring started acting up, he said, "I want to make sure you finish. I am going to stay with you all the way to the turn around point where you will finish!" (the marathon turn point was at mile 13, just .1 of a mile from my finish). He did and I managed to sprint in. I am a firm believer in finishing strong. I am thankful for someone to run beside me who was able to remind me of Scriptures all the way to the finish and for helping me keep my focus on the Lord.

Scriptures we talked about:

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Philippians 4: 6-7 " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Hebrews 12:1-2

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.

I Corinthians 9:24 " Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Philippians 3:13-14 " Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

I really feel like the Lord carried me to the end as I was in pain. So thankful for the ability to run.

Shannon and I finished minutes apart! Great race! Congrats also to my friends, Lynette and Amanda on their first ever half. Way to go Girls.

Now it's a 2 week recovery until I run Houston for Living Water!

Please visit the link below to donate to this cause:

http://www.ChevronHoustonMarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=6625&CID=245