Running Over Hurdles

 A few weeks before my 36th birthday, I had the opportunity participate in my first Corporate Challenge with the company I work for. As I stood in the infield of the track watching numerous individuals competing in their events, the competitive fire began to burn deep within my core. A sleeping giant was had been awakened from its slumber and was beginning to stir. The giant had been in a longer than expected hibernated sabbatical that made Rip Van-Winkle’s slumber seem like a catnap. There were few, if any remnants visible of the former, collegiate athlete. The once toned physique had become hidden and scared by layers of fat from years of inactivity and stress.

The internal clock that once ticked slowly in my youth had now seemed to be ticking at a less-than-desirable quicker pace. Three summer’s before, I had shed over 30 pounds off my frame through exercise and a more balanced diet and looked more like the runner I once was. Unfortunately, I did not have the motivation or desire to endure in a training program or any kind of physical activity due to the stressful, depressed lifestyle I had unfortunately embraced. Slowly over the next three years, those pounds came back with a personal vendetta against me and any attempt of keeping them away. My nemesis had not only returned to my waistline and frame, but it had returned for battle and this time it had bought in reinforcements.

Through two job losses and other personal drama, the pounds continued to attach themselves to me and refused to play fair. I stepped on the scales the day before my birthday and did not like what I saw. I was well over 255 pounds and had at one time hit 260, a far cry from the days of a starving collegiate athlete who often was considered a heavyweight at a mere 195 pounds. Hampered by nagging IT Band issues over the last 5 years had made a return to competitive running all the less realistic. My mental toughness had succumbed to the pain and excuses. For once in my athletic career I was experiencing a hurdle that I could not jump. My ignorance in research led me to believe there was no true fix for my issue. Instead of spending the time needed to nurse an injury, I committed the unpardonable sin in athletics: I quit. I had decided it would be too much effort to try and train through pain and keep up a rigorous training schedule and would be much more enjoyable to just relax and live life.

With my mother’s diagnosis with cancer a year before and my dad’s diagnosis of adult onset diabetes a few months earlier, I knew it was time to make some changes. I knew that while exercise and a healthier lifestyle was not an insurance policy against sickness, it provided me peace of mind that I was doing something about my situation.  So out onto the streets I ventured that birthday eve with the decision to complete a one-mile run with nothing to lose and everything to gain. As I embarked on my first run in over 3 years my lungs ached and my knees and legs screamed from each time my feet impacted the asphalt. Even through the pain I was experiencing, I felt alive. It was as if each step and breathe I took was instilling life back into soul of this runner and in the end not all hope was lost. My pace had been respectable and the desire to run had been restored.  
 
The next several weeks would definitely be a challenge I was not sure I could handle. Of all the summers I chose to break out of my running sabbatical, I would choose the hottest one on record. As a teenager I could run for what seemed like hours in the hot, grueling Kansas summers. Running and recovery for a cross-country runner is much different than that of an overweight, out-of-shape adult. The body just doesn’t react the same way nor does it recover as quickly. Fortunately, I had enough mental toughness and strength to squeak out a few miles each week before surrendering to the air conditioning and shower.

At the end of June the fitness center at my work announced a Summer Challenge Incentive Program. This challenge was a 6 week program designed to push the participants to improve their overall fitness week over week. It involved doing pushups, curl sit-ups and a 12 minute walk/run. In order to “pass” to the next week, each participant had to improve their initial results by 10% for each week. Several different group classes that ranged from boot camp to elliptical training to free weights were available for those who truly wanted to see results. At the end of the 6 week program, the winner would receive an iPad. The prize was motivation enough to get back into respectable shape and hone my mental toughness. I wanted that iPad and I was going to do everything it took to pass my weekly tests and ultimately finish the challenge.

As of today, I have been training for 13 weeks and have built a core foundation to springboard off of going forward. I successfully completed the challenge aforementioned. At first I did not know if I could finish each weekly test, but through rigorous, daily exercises and training I was able to meet each challenge laid before me. They say you cannot eat an elephant all at once, but must eat it one bite at a time and that is the approach I had to take with this challenge. I quit focusing on the finish line and put my focus on the goal in front of me.

Unfortunately, I did not win the iPad, as there were a total of 7 finalists at the end of the program and the winner was picked from a drawing. It was a bit disheartening to finish and not win the grand prize, but I did not lose. I was still a winner. This challenge program got me back into shape and was the kick in the butt that I needed. My mental toughness has been sharpened and my physical toughness has been tweaked. In the process, my diet has had an overhaul; I have trimmed 3 inches of my waistline and I have shed a total of 20 pounds. I am ready for the challenge(s) that lie in the miles ahead of me and by this time next year, I will be in the best shape of my life at the age of 37. I have decided to embrace a healthier lifestyle and persevere. I will run over the hurdles and go the distance, regardless of how difficult the challenges seem.  

Perserverance

This past June 15th I made a resolution to change for the better and get this temple back in shape.
I went out for a one mile run and to be honest it was more of a pathetic job than anything. I am sure it resembled more closely to a bison rumbling across the prairies to any outside observer. More than 2 years had passed since making my last real attempt at getting in shape and over the span of that time I had gone through many difficult challenges; especially in the career arena. 2 layoffs and 11 months of unemployment along with my mother being diagnosed with thyroid cancer didn't help my cause of not wanting to do anything except eat and assume a depressed state of mind. My pride had been crushed and my spirit felt like it had no life remaining in it.

Tomorrow was going to be my 36th birthday and I was feeling pretty worthless. Where had the last 4 1/2 years gone? That was the amount of time that had passed since my daughter's 5th birthday and the last time I ran in a competitive race. My body has been a pathetic example of how our temple's are supposed to look like. Mine had more of the look of a condemed building deemed an unsafe structure and awaiting demolition by way of wrecking ball. I was a mess. I had allowed attack after attack to punch holes in my armor and leave me vulnerable to any pending assault. My core had been crushed by a worldly, demonic onslaught called Corporate America. My talents, abilities and efforts were sucked completely out of me and used like a drug. I was given a sentence of death before I ever had life. My outcome had already been determined, it was just a matter of time before the sentencing was completed and I was cutoff at the knees and left beaten and bleeding to fend for myself in this cuthroat economy.

But God has called me for more than what this world has refused to acknowledge. He has called me to be bold and to be strong and courageous. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and I have been called to be a warrior for Christ; a general in His army. I have been called for things much higher than this world considers acceptable. I have a higher calling and decided to refuse the death sentence I had previously been given. Why? because my Jesus already conquered the gates of hell and took back the keys and we have victory in Him. We win in the end! There is no need to feel complete defeat and lack of purpose. We all have a calling and a purpose. So I made a decision to throw off these grave clothes and put a new coat of armor on. In order to wear this new covering of armor it is going to require more from me. While it is more protective...it is heavier. The Word says in Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required." In order for me to carry this new annointing and armor I must get myself in shape.

Not only did I need to be in shape physically, but also spiritually. I had become drained and depleted. Something Brother Tommy Burchfield taught us back at Texas Bible Institute was that we needed to "put the Word in us when we don't need it, so it's there when we do need it." I hadn't been putting the word in me during slow times and once the attacks started bombarding me my defenses were weak and vulnerable and I didn't have the time to prepare. But I have a God who loves me and tells me so. He has shown me there is a light at the end of the tunnel and when things look the darkest and we seem to reach the lowest depths He is there with His hand extended to pull us up and give us a way out. He will even pull us up out of that pit and sling us onto His back and carry us to higher ground. And this is exactly what happened to me. He picked me up and carried me to higher ground. He administered first aid to my wounds and gave me a clean bill of health to continue forward, but I had to show I was willing to accept it and live in His victory.

So when I went running that evening before my 36th birthday I wasn't just running to get physically fit, I was running to strengthen my spirit. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I must keep it in pristene shape and condition. He deserves the best and I have repented for allowing myself to accept less for my King.
So when I am running and training and things seem uphill and hard, I have to remember I am doing it for several reasons and must perservere and not give up. When I am feeling that my day is crazy and is spiraling out of control, that is when it is time to exercise my spirit. I know that I must train daily in the word and prayer in order to have the weapons necessary for this crazy world. I must persevere if I want to be successful. As I have heard throughout my entire life in the athletic world, "No pain...No gain." If you are not willing to give up something, you will never be able to acquire what you really want. If you want a deeper walk with Christ, you have to sacrifice your time and sleep and spend time in prayer, fasting and reading His Word! If you want to stay in shape and keep your temple looking and feeling good, you will have to eat right, sleep better, give up some of your time and work out.

I read this verse this morning and it is very appropriate and I think will become one of the ones I use to motivate myself daily in my race as a Christian.
Remember the words in Hebrews 12:1 "...let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us."
and in
1 Cor. 9:24-27 "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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqqualified for the prize." that I plan on keeping.