The race, the perseverance, and the people rallying you on
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OFFICIAL RACE PHOTography courtesy of photos by aaron.
*race outfit details are at the end of the post. links to shop are my affiliated links. If you click & buy, I get a small commission at no extra charge.*
Maybe for some, the end is the easiest, but it wasn't for me.
I'd just seen my sister, friends, along with the water station crew standing at the 12 mile marker snapping pictures, waving, and cheering:
"One more mile!"
"you got this!"
"Almost there!"
THE PERSEVERANCE
However, with each step forward their shouts grew dimmer and shrunk in the distance as I continued towards the finish line. It was the long stretch. And the fact that I was just moments away from approaching the finish line, yet not quite there, sent this wave of exhaustion and weariness over me.
One foot in front of the other, I had to keep going. Then, without even thinking it, I began murmering to myself:
"perseverance"
"persevere"
"PERSEVERE"
"PERSEVERE"
My murmerring grew into a declaration. And due to the music blarring through my earphones I couldn't notice how loud I had gotten.
This one word that was grounding me led me to reciting the very verse I had memorized througout my training which I had honestly almost forgotten about througout the entire race.
At the same volume I continued in my declaration as I inched closer to the finish line:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...”
By now I'm slightly panting. I mean, it's not the easiest to hold a conversation with yourself after running 12.5 miles at this point. It's exhausting! But still, though I struggled to declare this verse out loud to myself - not caring how loud or crazy I sounded to the runners around me - I continued with verse two:
“...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right had of the throne of God.”
I chose to hold on to this verse as a reminder that this race required perseverance. And you know what you need in order to persevere?
Endurance.
And you know what doesn't come easy?
Endurance.
It's not something you can search on Amazon and choose to purchase with 2 day shipping at the click of a button. It's not something you can cook up in an Instant Pot. And, as Christine Caine shared in a message once, it's not an app you can just download when you need it.
"You don't download endurance, you build it." - Christine Caine
And once that endurance is built (by showing up everyday, by training when no crowds are there to root for you, by being consistent week in and week out) then perseverance is possible.
With great perseverance you can run a good race.
THE PEOPLE
Refreshed, PUMPED and overjoyed and probably crying happy tears, I was getting closer and closer to the end of the race. I passed by a guy that had been running in front of me but had suddenly began walking. I could tell he was tired.
Overflowing with determination I gave him a thumbs up and shouted (still not knowing how loud - #earphonesprobs):
"Don't give up! We're so close, c'mon... you can do it!"
He gave me a small smile and a thumbs up in return.
By this time I was coming up to the last leg of the race and the giant, infladabile FINISH arch I'd be running under as I crossed the finish line was in sight. I had a bit more to run straigth ahead before making the left turn towards the end. I took my earphones off and let them dangle from side to side as I ran onward, hearing the music blarring from the speakers on each side of the infladable arch and the people cheering as the announcer called out finisher's names and times.
But something else caught my eyes and perked my ears...
Fellow runners walking towards us in hine sight of the finish line. They walked against the traffic of the race course with medals around their necks and water bottles in their hands. These were finishers that had made it a point to walk back down the course and cheer on those still running. TALK ABOUT A POWERFUL SIGHT TO SEE.
Tears filled my eyes (yet again) as I realized how important it is to rally on those coming after us. To say I was encouraged is an understatement. There stood athletes that knew exactly what it takes to finish and there they stood reminding the rest of us
it IS possible.
It IS possible to run the race...
it IS possible to persevere...
it IS possible to finish strong.
Shoutout to my sister for capturing this moment! You're the real MVP.
THE RACE
I want to share a few things about the race and the course with you all in bullet point form. This was over all a wonderful race for me. I felt great and INCREDIBLY supported by my friends and family that came out to cheer me on and some even ran with me! (Read more below.)
- I ran the Katy Half Marathon in Katy, Texas.
- Training was a 12 week program that included running 3x a week + cross training.
- I've ran one half marathon every year since 2016, making this one my 3rd completed half.
- This race was the 2nd race of the Bayou City Half-Marathon Series. The 3rd and final race is April 8th, 2018.
- Weather was about 45 degrees and overcast. Drizzled some but overall the rain held out!
- My sister and friend, Skyler, took pictures of me during the course.
- At mile 3, my dear friend, Abbie (pictured below), volunteered to run 6 miles with me so I didn't have to run the race alone.
(Original plan was to run it with a friend that couldn't make it in for the race last minute.) - From mile 9 to mile 12.5, my husband ran along side me. (Pictured above.)
- I hit a new personal record with a finish time of 2:11:35, averaging a 10 minute mile!!
- Overall: 559 of 1193 | Females 25-29: 27 of 70 | All Females: 209 of 620
- Afterwards my legs were quite shaky as I embraced my husband, mom, dad, sister, Abbie & Skyler waiting for me at the finish line.
- We all went to my house afterwards and my husband and mom cooked us up a BIG family breakfast.
- I bathed and napped HARD after this. #welldeserved #andmagical
- The day ended with a celebratory date night with the hubs at MidiCi Pizza!
DEAR FRIEND, RUN YOUR RACE!
We all have a race we're running in. And it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. And I'm meaning metaphorically as Paul was in Hebrews 12. The race is life. For me and my fellow believers, the race is also a spiritual journey.
A journey I'm called to persevere in and have great endurance in.
A journey where I get to cheer others on around me as they run their own races.
A journey where I get to encourage those that will be coming after me.
A journey where I'm to receive the encouragement, help and wisdom from those that have already gone before me or from those God has placed in my life that choose to run along side me.
A journey where though it won't come easy and it won't happen over night, I'm determined to see it through to completion, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus and encouraging others along the way.
CLICK THESE LINKS TO SHOP RUNNING GEAR:
top & leggings - under armour / sports bra - nike pro / shoes - brooks pureflow 6 / running belt - Target (similar) / watch - fitbit blaze
Keep running,
- crystal -
Ps. Thanks for reading! Would love to hear from you! Who is someone in your life that has come along side you and encouraged you as you have been running your "race"? Share in a comment below!
