When I was very young I began running with my dad. Everyday we would try to make it a little further than previously, till one day we finally hit a mile! Sadly, after reaching that “milestone” we quite. As I grew up I loved playing tag, taking walks, roller skating, biking, swimming, and gym class in our homeschool group, so I have always been a sporty type of person.
Around the age of 13 or so, we went to a churches outdoor fall party. I was already way overweight at that age and when they called for the 5k I wished I could go but decided not to. Then they had a short sprint past the lake and back. I was thinking “Sure, I’ll go for that.”
But what I didn’t hear during the instructions was that you had to go AROUND the lake, not past it. I huffed and puffed till I could go no further. I was so embarrassed when two of the girls heard me breathing and looked back. I wished I could run and hide.
Fast forward about five years and my sister tried to encourage me to run with her. I went a few times but hated being out of breath. I was doing what typical beginners do and that is starting out too fast, which causes a lot of people to hate running.
Around the age of 20 I played around with short jogs, but only where no one would see me. At 21 my dad decided he was going to sign the family up for a 5k and I decided that if I was going to do it, it was going to be running the entire three miles. No exceptions.
As I trained, using Couch 2 5k, I remember one day feeling totally discouraged and defeated because I couldn’t push myself as much as I wanted. I went into the house and sat down at my desk to read a short paper on discouragement. In that instant I knew I had to do it. I headed back outside and chose to run three quarters of a mile without stopping. I finished it and during that run I was hooked. I don’t know what happened but from then on I knew I wanted to be a runner.
From that day forward God has run with me everytime upon my request and it has drawn me into an intimate relationship with Him.
I can’t explain to you what is so thrilling about running, you would have to experience it yourself. I used to think runners were crazy and I feel like God has something for me in this sport. Looking back now I can see the many times He tried to get me started. I am so glad He did not give up on me, because running has changed my life in multiple different ways.
Through Be Still and Run I hope to encourage others to embrace this simple act of running with God, as part of their daily life! May He implant this desire in your heart!
Until next time,
Happy Running Y’all!!
Be Still and Run 