Run, Anna, Run!

Another 13.1 over and done with.

This is a Thankfulness post. Recently a missionary acquaintance wrote me a note after I had posted a picture to facebook. His note was a reminder to not get caught up in my accomplishments, but to remember to thank God for what He's done. And I know there are moments when I forget to be thankful, but there are so many more when I just stop and marvel at what He has done and allowed me to do over the last 2.5 years. One of those moments came this past Sat. I ran my first Half Marathon a month ago, finishing in 2:24. As soon as I finished I knew that I had paced myself too slow. But since it was my first and I'm not a fast runner, and I wasn't sure what to expect, I just said I was going to run somewhere around an eleven minute mile and that's what I did. That in itself, just a year after I started running, was an accomplishment. But this time around I had a better idea of what to do. This race was a 5k, 1/2 Marathon, and Full Marathon. The full marathon is a Boston Qualifier, so they have pace groups you can run with. I really, really wanted to run a consistent 10 minute mile and come in around 2:10, but had decided to put myself with the 2:15/4:30 group. When I got there, though, I found myself heading straight to the 2:10/4:20 group, because, hey, if you've got a goal, why not go for it, right??

Having never run with a pace group before, I had no idea what to expect, and I certainly didn't expect the group leaders to consistently run a 9:15 mile for the first 5 miles(which is a fast pace for me). I kept up, though, and when they started to pull ahead at mile 8(or I began to slow down, one), I let them go, but kept them in sight. They stopped at the water stations, I grabbed the water and ran, sloshing it all over my face, and managing to get some down my throat. It was a cold morning, about 26F when we started running, but a beautiful day. The route was rather hilly(normal for Charlotte), with some long, steady climbs, and as I began to head up the tenth mile and was beginning to slow down, I had this thought, "How amazing is this??!! How incredible is it that you're on your tenth mile, running your 2nd 1/2 Marathon, after completing two Triathlons this year? How amazing is it that you're keeping up with this pace group, feet pounding, legs strong, lungs breathing easily, feeling good, and loving it?? How amazing is it that after years of carrying lots of excess weight, you're doing great, and not even near the back of the pack? How amazing is this??" And so I pushed harder and ran my way to the end, crossing that finish line right at 2:10:07, having averaged an under 10 minute mile consistently for 13.2 miles, and hitting my exact goal. How amazing is that??!

And so, during this month of Thankfulness, I'm thankful for:

*the amazing, incredible body that God designed
*the body's ability to rejuvenate and heal
*a healthy, strong body
*a body that continues to grow stronger and continues to heal
*the physical changes that God has allowed me to make
*the time to make those changes
*a body that now runs, and swims, and cycles, and cross trains
*the difference that my physical health makes in
 regards to my viola playing(stronger arms, muscles, tendons)
*being able to challenge myself physically
*being able to enjoy the things God created me to do(run, jump, climb, hike, etc.)
*being able to enjoy more and more of God's amazing creation