Sore, but happy

Saturday was my 15-miler. This is the longest distance I have ever run in my life. Wow. It feels weird to type that considering I have been running long distances for 10 years now. A quick description of the run: my lungs felt great and I definitely felt like I had a good endurance base built up to handle the distance. On the down side, this was my first run without the comforts of a high-end treadmill with good shocks, so my shins took a beating running on the pavement. I was sore the rest of the day Saturday and all day Sunday. Monday they felt a little better and I ran 4 miles today which actually seemed to relieve the soreness immensely. I don't even feel them anymore. There were some interesting moments like when I couldn't find a bathroom around mile four because the one I was counting on in a park was shut down. I was feeling really discouraged about that but then found a portable at a construction site so disaster averted! I have never been happier to see a port-a-potty in my life. Oh, and there was something in the air bothering me so I probably blew my nose into my shirt 2o times. Runners are so weird. But, I made it! Don't ask me my time because I gave up looking at my watch literally after the first mile (which was 8:40 in case you care) because looking down was too distracting. I was trying to push the pace as much as I could without killing my poor shins. This Saturday, I run 16 miles. I will probably run the same course. I am a creature of habit, what can I say. Here is my schedule for this week:

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: 8 miles

Thursday: 3 miles

Saturday: 16 miles

I didn't run with music for my long run because I love not being plugged in. It is huge for me that I actually listen to the radio now when I am driving. I am not by myself very often unless Jack is napping so running is my alone time. I am amazed how the right thoughts can make or break a workout for me. What kept me going during my difficult miles was thinking how good I was going to feel when I was done or how proud I would be to go home and tell Doug I had done it. I also thought about people I know personally who physically aren't able to run long distances and how even though I was hurting, they would trade places with me in a second. Today in my bible study, I looked at Philippians 4:8, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." My footnote in my bible for this verse says, "Paul understood the influence of ones thoughts on one's life. What people allow to occupy their minds will sooner or later determine their speech and action. The combination of virtues listed is sure to produce a wholesome thought pattern, which in turn will result in a life of moral and spiritual excellence."

This prompted me to think of the lovely in my life. I wrote in my book, "I see something lovely because when I look into the handsome, smiling face of my little boy, I see a glimpse of how much my God loves me." I posted this as my status update and I am sure some of my friends now think I have become sappy and corny. Here is a frame of reference for you for anyone I confused. It is so true though. Being a mother is a very lovely, honorable profession. I read in a book today to remember while you are child-rearing that your children are only on loan to you for a little while from God. This responsibility is huge and one of the most important ones ever given to us. Everyday is more than just surviving until nap time or bedtime; it is a blessing given to you by an Almighty God with the purpose of training and discipleing a generation of little ones who fear the Lord. I pray that my though life and my parenting align with what God's word says.