"Trusting the Process"

I have decided to train for the St. Jude - Memphis Marathon later in December of this year. I have run the 1/2 Marathon in this same race the last 3 years, and earlier this year I ran the Nashville Music City 1/2 Marathon; so what I'm saying is, after a modest 3 1/2 year running career, I am going to take a leap of faith and attempt to run the full marathon. I am looking at it as a leap of faith, because after running each of my 1/2 marathons, the thought of turning around, and doing the same race all over again frightens me, it actually staggers me. My biggest fear, is getting to the split, knowing how difficult it has been just to get to that point, and then heading out again for another 13.1 miles. My inner runner is shaking his head inside me, just at the thought of it all.

However, I am learning something new on this new journey: I am learning to trust the process. It is giving me a zen-like attitude towards the marathon, and in my life in general right now. Trust the process.

I am following a program offered by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield from "Marathoning for Mortals." This program is a 20 week workout that initially has been quite easy for me. I've actually cut back some miles per week, but it will be slowly building to a 20 mile run just a few weeks before the big run on December 4th, 2010. And so, right now I am not thinking too much about the end of the program, which seems daunting to say the least. I am concentrating on the present: getting up early to run 40 minutes before the heat becomes too much and getting in relatively easy 5 to 7 mile long runs on Saturdays.

This, Trusting the Process has been a great addition to my life as well. There are some tough things going on in my life right now, as there are in many people's lives; I don't know how I am going to deal with some big issues facing me. But right now, I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying to do the best I can, with what I have to work with. And, for the first time in a long time, I am able to find a way to trust, to trust in God to be with me through this tough stuff. I am able to trust that God is with me and that whatever is coming ahead, taking it one step at a time, gets me farther along the journey. This, living in the present, and having faith, has helped me find a peace of mind I haven't had for a long time. I'm thankful for my running. It has shone an unexpected light on this for me. I'm hoping for you, that you feel God's presence in your life, through your daily activities like a run, or a walk, or your family or work, or whatever you enjoy doing. Peace.