As marathon date draws closer and my training sessions increase (2-3 hour chunks of time on weekends!)... I find myself just wanting to sleep when I'm done with the essentials of keeping up with my email inbox. I'm also finding myself hungry all the time!
Now I've posted before on the benefits of exercise and how training for this marathon has done wonders to my overall mood and sanity. At the same time, I also notice myself getting frustrated when I cannot make a training session as I had originally planned. For who knew... infants and toddlers are not so predictable and do not always follow the schedule I put forth for them! I'm learning the lesson of balancing my expectations and readjusting them to fit what my life will allow. I admit that it is very hard for a “type A schedule oriented planner” like myself to just “let go and go with the flow”. I have to tell myself that it is not the end of the world if I am not running the exact number of miles the schedule says I'm to run. Hey, if I end up finishing the marathon.. great! But if not... isn’t it also the journey that counts? I have to say though... I'm going to try really really really hard to finish!
So this post is really about me being a mom trying to balance time and expectations. It should be okay for it to be about me when I need it to be about me, but not at the expense of my kids and husband! I need to step back sometimes and remember the big picture.
Now this marathon run did start out as something on my bucket list and was all about me wanting to do something for just me. I've recently decided to run for a cause. I joined the Team in Training for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I figured it doesn't have to be just about me and I can raise support to fight blood cancer. Being a family physician I have several patients with several of these diagnoses and it seems appropriate to run for them. On a more personal note, I have a good friend who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma while overseas doing missions. He has two small children and is a physician himself. His and his wife's story of faith through their battle with the uncertainties and pain has been a true source of encouragement for me. So here I go! If anyone is interested in supporting this cause you can click here to see my website.
Now this marathon run did start out as something on my bucket list and was all about me wanting to do something for just me. I've recently decided to run for a cause. I joined the Team in Training for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I figured it doesn't have to be just about me and I can raise support to fight blood cancer. Being a family physician I have several patients with several of these diagnoses and it seems appropriate to run for them. On a more personal note, I have a good friend who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma while overseas doing missions. He has two small children and is a physician himself. His and his wife's story of faith through their battle with the uncertainties and pain has been a true source of encouragement for me. So here I go! If anyone is interested in supporting this cause you can click here to see my website.
Now on a side note, I’ve always thought there are so many good verses in the Bible that draws analogies with our Christian faith and running! Here are a couple that come to mind:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)
