One week ago I completed a very challenging physical feat: I ran 50 miles! I told most people who asked me that I thought it would take me 10 hours. My final time was 9 hours, 8 minutes and some change. A week later, here is what sticks out to me:
1. It was definitely harder than I thought it would be.
There were many challenges I had to deal with in the course of the weekend.
- Sleep was not exactly plentiful (I woke up around 2:00 a.m. the morning of the race and slept only about a half hour after that).
- The course was much more difficult than I anticipated. Lots of rolling hills and extended up and down hills.
- 80 degrees would have been excellent last weekend – for Ohio! The higher temperatures were certainly a shock to my system.
- I dealt with a lot of pain in the joints and my feet. More than I anticipated.
- I ran the vast majority of the race alone.
2. I was extremely happy with how I handled the challenges.
- I never panicked.
- I never got frustrated because things weren’t going right. My attitude stayed strong and I was able to stay focused throughout the day.
- I drank a lot of water in response to the higher temps and kept my body moving.
- I sucked up the pain and knew I had to keep going.
- I give glory to God for all of this.
- The course was truly beautiful and it was very enjoyable.
3. I had excellent support.
- My friends Brad Horner and Craig Fullerton made a huge commitment to helping me throughout the course of the day.
- They kept my beverages cold, made several trips to pick up things I requested, and had my supplies organized.
- I received texts during the race from several people who were genuinely encouraging. It was a huge boost to get these throughout the day.
- I had a lot of people who were excited and prayerful during the day – it meant a lot.
4. I raised $1500 for IJM.
- I wanted to add some extra motivation for finishing. So, I decided to raise money for International Justice Mission.
- $1500 went to help this organization pursue justice for various types of individuals caught in unjust circumstances around the globe (modern day slavery, sex trafficking, etc.)
All in all, I truly believe God was with me. I sacrificed a decent amount of time (and sleep!) to train for this race. It was a spiritual experience that was a one day picture of what Christ wants from us. He wants our willingness to fight through difficulty and keep the goal of finishing in sight. In the first few miles that was difficult, but it was worth it. I hope our faith in Christ is the same.
So, be challenged, and know that it’s always worth it when you try difficult things to stretch yourself.
To all who supported me in any way, I truly appreciate it. It was great motivation to press on and achieve something I’ll remember the rest of my life.
iPad giveaway contest – THIS WEEK!
This week is the 3RD ANNIVERSARY! of my blog and I’m excited about that. So excited my wife and I are giving away . . .
An IPAD. Yup, you got it. Third generation, refurbished, full warranty from apple. Ready to go to the winner. You may ask: How do I win?
You’ll have to spend about a half hour completing a quiz and get 15 of 20 right, but you can do it! Click here for the quiz. Last year was a 1 in 8 chance to win, so don’t assume someone else will win. Might as well be you! Entries are due Sunday night by 11:59 p.m. so get moving!