There’s nothing like a beautiful, sunny, warm day to blow up any and all excuses for exercise! I was slowly getting back into my running routine but I really needed this beautiful weather to jumpstart my motivation. Yes, it’s been tough since my Dad passed. But it’s time to move forward; it’s time to cope with reality; it’s time to live again.
So off to the lake I went on a mild Saturday morning for a slow and easy 8 mile run. It was a truly invigorating experience! I marveled at the beauty of the world around me and soaked up the welcoming warmth of the sun. The miles ticked by and I was tempted to run farther than my planned 8 miles. Not wanting to taint a great run, I stuck with my plan. I was surprised to see few people out on the trail, only 2 other runners.
I did see quite a few bicyclists though. And one almost ran me over since he and his buddy were riding beside each other, taking up the whole trail. I was able to jump off the trail as I saw them coming and also noticed that he had his head down. Luckily, that portion of the trail was flat to the right. If we had been only a few yards further, a step off the trail would have led to a dive into the water!
A close call wasn’t going to ruin my run. I was able to run the last two miles at a “fast finish” pace which really made my day since my winter training has been so slack. I completed my 8 miles feeling like I could tackle the world with renewed energy to really dig into my training for Spring races.
Sometimes, we have to remember to rely not on ourselves but on the Lord. I began my run with a prayer asking for help in processing through my Dad’s passing and moving on. It was my first run in months where thoughts of my Dad didn’t bring heartache and pain. Yes, I still miss him but I know that I must move forward and now the Lord Jesus has given me the ability to do so.
Phil 4:13