Running Races

So I'm training for a half marathon on June 7th. I've been working my butt off, to say the least. My legs have been in a perpetual state of soreness for about two weeks now, I find that I'm twice as hungry as I usually am, and I'm usually tired enough to pass out while standing at around 9:30 at night. Training has almost completely taken over my life. I've never done anything like this, and I'm pretty excited, but this whole dedicated to finishing the race this has got me thinking.
In running long distances, I've found that perseverance is the key to attaining your goal. I guess I mean that I'm realizing how many obstacles I have to tackle that are simply in my mind alone. Physically, I'm young and healthy and able to get to a place in my physical capabilities where I'm able to run 13.1 miles, and probably even more than that. I know that on June 7th I'm going to finish the race, but there are so many little parts of me that say "You can't".
There's the part of me that knows exactly how much of an athlete I've always been, which is not really that much. Growing up, I was always the slowest runner out of all the kids I played with. I always tired out first, and was much more content sitting down and coloring than playing kickball or having relay races in the backyard. Running a half marathon is definitely not something my parents or anyone else for that matter ever expected me to do. So, I'll find myself doubting my ability to be strong enough to finish the race, based on the fact that I'm not really that athletic. I just like running, and that's it.
There's also the part of me that's scared. What if I get hurt before the race? I'm not going to be as good as a lot of these racers, and there's a big part of me that's afraid of what others will think of me. And just the basic principle of running that far. It scares me. I'm totally scared.
I'm not strong enough. I'm not enough of a good athlete. I'm too scared. I'm afraid of what others will think if I'm not a perfect runner. There's always this little person in the back of my mind that says "You're just not good enough"
Paul talks about the Christian life being a race, and that the finish line is the end of our life here on earth. I'm not sure that I truly started to understand that until I started running...really running. In the back of my mind, there are so many things that say, "You can't" when it comes to persevering in my walk with Christ. I have a thousand excuses. I'm too tired to read my bible today. I don't have time. I'm afraid of what other people will think about me. I don't think I'll be able to give up the things that I like doing that I know are wrong. It's too hard. In the end of all ends, you run the race to reach the goal. In the end, persevering isn't about doing it for the sake of doing it...it's about laying your crown at the feet of the lover of your soul...it's about hearing Him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

I know that there will be times during the half where I feel like I can't finish. I know it will be hard and I'll be tired. I also know that I will finish the race. I know that I'll run, I won't walk. I also know that I won't look back.
I know that in my life, there will times where I feel like I can't finish. I know it will be hard and I'll be tired. I also know that I will finish the race. I know that I'll run, I won't walk. I also know that I won't look back so that when I cross the finish line, when I meet the goal, I'll look into my fathers eyes, my maker, the lover of my soul, and lay my crown of jewels at His feet, and hear Him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant"

So that gets me thinking. As I'm amping up my training the next LESS THAN six weeks, I feel that it is also the perfect time to amp up my training in my walk with Christ. I'm excited to see just how far He'll take me.