It wasn't meant to be easy!

If a goal was easy to reach there wouldn't be much point, now would there? Well my current goal is to race the Chicago Marathon on 10/10/10. I say race because there is no real point in just running a race to finish, I want to race the marathon. Anything less would be a diservice to the marathon itself and all the training. You don't train to just finish, well I don't train to just finish. It's called a race for a reason...

Current struggle: Stress fractures (yes plural) in my left foot
Down Time: Maybe a month maybe 2 - it's not really down time though, because I'm still training just not running...
Alternative: Swimming, swimming, and more swimming...and toss in some serious weight lifting to further mess with the lack of bouyancy that is making it so hard to swim!

Some days I'm not super bothered, some days I feel like my favorite thing has been ripped away and I can't fathom what I'm gonig to do for the next 3 weeks. So here is how I am currently coping...

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" Lord please strengthen my body!!!

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Ok so what do I take from this and why does it keep me going...first I know that I am training and running the marathon not because I thought it sounded cool, I have jacked up knees and clearly feet that would be foolish. I am running because I felt that for some crazy strange reason God wanted me to and had something to teach me. Now along this process I may have made my running an idol, and that is 100% not ok and I do repent of that, I am learning as I go. Hold everything with an open hand, allowing God to take it away if that is His will knowing that He has a better plan...in that I really hope that His better plan doesn't include me not running (I'm learning slowly people, and recognizing my human weakness as I type). And of course, I can't do this alone, only God can make this happen, back to the crappy joints, if I rely on myself alone, I can't accomplish this goal.

So Big picture take aways...give the race to God and run to bring Him glory, allow him to strengthen me, DON'T love running so much that it becomes an idol in my life! I'm sure there is more to learn but that's where I am right now, sitting in my human frailty praying for healing!!!