Running the Same Race

I realized this past Saturday as I was running in the Race for the Cure, that I had ran this particular race about 4 or 5 times. In addition, I am also gearing up to run my 3rd or 4th Vulcan 10K next month. You would think after running both races so many times before I would either tire of the course or decide to run something else. Perhaps that is partially true but each time I run the race there is something different about it. The weather, the shoes, my time, my training schedule or the people I enter and run each race with.

The Vulcan 10k is one of my favorite races partly because 10 kilometers is my preferred distance. It’s 6.2 miles, which is long enough to challenge me but not so far that I am exhausted. The one thing about this race is that it has a few hills. So as part of my training every year I have a mapped out a 6 to 6.5 mile route around my apartment that I like to add back into my weekly runs.

For those of you that don’t know, I live in Vestavia Hills…Hills being the key word. There are a few flat portions in the route that I have created but you have to scale a few hills to get to them and once you are there then you have to run up a few more to get back home. For any skiers out there, I would classify a few of these as black diamonds. I am thinking if covered with snow and ice you could definitely have a nice run down.

Needless to say, I have run this route several times during my training over the years. However, the problem lies in that I only remember how I feel at the end of my training and not at the beginning. So when I start out to run the route I forget that it usually takes me a few tries to get the hang of the course.

So yesterday I started out to tackle my 6 mile route to prepare for my upcoming race. About a mile into my run I had the thought; can I quit and go home?
About two miles into my run I had the thought; this didn’t seem so hard last time?!
About three miles into my run I had the thought; I feel pretty good and I’m halfway done!

I would have to say that I think those same thoughts enter my head when I am going through a lesson that God is teaching me. Though the circumstances may be different the lessons I am learning aren’t. Whether God is teaching me about pride, forgiveness, self control, bitterness, selfishness, dependency, etc it is the same lesson that I have learned before.

I am pretty sure I have asked the same questions of God. Can I quit and go home? This didn’t seem so hard last time? Or I have my “a-ha” moment and I realize, this feels pretty good and I see the finish line up ahead.

So why do I run the same race? I know right away I never enter these races to win. I am not Kenyan, as a matter of fact I am a former fat girl who still dreams of Doritos and cupcake day at the Samford cafeteria. No, I enter these races to improve myself as a runner, to challenge myself, to have fun and maybe have a PR (personal record).

Same reasons we are still metaphorically running this Christian race. We aren’t ever doing this to “win.” Luckily, it was already DONE for us on the cross. We never are required to really DO anything any more. Christ already DID it all and paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. And by his grace we are saved. But out of gratitude we “run this race that we may share in the blessings and get a crown that lasts forever.” 1 Cor 9:23-25.

Often times running this race means learning a few of the same lessons over and over. Just like with my training, I have to keep at it because I am not the perfect runner. Luckily for us, Christ also keeps at it and teaches us the same things over and over for the same reasons.

James 1:2-5 (New International Version)
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.