For Lent, my friend Sara and I decided that we would use the #RethinkChurch 2015 Lent Photo-A-Day calendar to write on a word a day. While I won’t post each day’s entry, I want to share a portion of them here. With Sundays technically being Feast Days during lent, today’s word is celebrate. Enjoy!
Today, I ran 4 miles in 40:58! I have never run 4 miles in under 45 minutes. On top of that, each of my 3 mile runs this week averaged under a 10 minute mile. This is huge for me. HUGE! The best part is that once I finished, my legs and lungs tell me that I could have kept going if I wanted. I could have kept going and run 5 miles in 51 minutes of 5.75 miles in an hour. Whatever the case – I could have kept going.
Definitely concentrating, but not ecstatic!
One of my friends recently asked me if I get a “runner’s high” when I run, to which I replied with an unequivocal “NO!” To my brain, nothing about the running process seems very stimulating or endorphin producing (well – at least not during the run). My brain believes that running is the most odious waste of time, which I only dane to participate in to reduce the size of my belly, therefore increasing my physical appeal to the opposite sex.
During a run, my brain would like me to believe that my legs are about to fall off and my heart rate will imminently sky rocket into the “red zone.” My brain likes to watch the seconds tick by and say, “you could just stop to walk for a minute. You’d feel a lot better,” over and over and over again. My brain is the enemy of my running aspirations. And my brain is a pretty strong opponent.
Halfway there!
Many times, I have fallen prey to my brain’s incessant pleas to stop and walk. I have spent many mornings laying in bed because my brain tells me that the long run is not an important part of my training. Oh yes – that sneaky brain has caused me to lose faith in myself, slowing down the pace to a nice, easy jog (err… walk).
But no more! My brain will not win this race. My lungs and my legs have joined forces to outsmart the disbelieving cranium. And they have pushed me ever harder – to run at paces I never thought I’d reach and longer than I believed I could go. The dynamic duo has told my brain to shut up again and again, so that halfway through my training, I have only missed one run (I was out of town – geez, cut me some slack)!
CELEBRATE!
At this rate, I will be shocked if I don’t glide through the finish line of the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon at an earlier time than I’ve ever seen before. A New Year’s Resolution finally accomplished. A new rhythm developed. I can already feel the tears streaming down my face as they hand me my medal and name me the winner of my own race.
I ran 4 miles in 40:58 today, and this is why I celebrate.
Rev. on the Edge 
Emily, you r doing well even though your brain doesn’t want to run. I like your words to concentrate on during this Lenten season. Blessings, cousin Jim(maybe second).