Original Post:  Sept. 20, 2010;  Updated:  Friday, May 6th, 2011

     I attempted running for the very first time 2 years ago. I sucked at it to say the least. I couldn’t even make it past a tenth of a mile. Little did I know that running is a very strategic activity. Yes, it requires strategy. I started running as a physical goal. I had this hair brain idea that I would train for a tri-athlon. Woo, was I out of my league. I kept at the running part for a couple of months and then my dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. When something traumatic happens like that in your life, you turn to auto pilot mode to just make it through day by day. My dad passed away 6 months later.

     I looked up and found that I was 20 lbs heavier and no better at running a tenth of a mile. So again I laced up my running shoes and hit the pavement. I was sucking in so much air through my nose & out of my mouth that I thought my head was going to explode. I could barely run a mile and I was giving it everything I had- this simply cannot be right.  There is a local running center here in Rockwall and they offer running classes. (http://www.rockwallrunningcenter.com/) I thought, okay I will stop by and find out about taking a class. I spent 10 minutes chatting with one of the owners, Carla. She asked me lots of questions about my breathing, etc. She and this other guy (Lee Chatham) that helps lead some of the trainings looked at each other and at the same time said “slow down.” In other words, slow down my running pace. They gave me a tip about running with a partner and being able to carry on a conversation.

     So the next day, I laced up my shoes and hit the pavement with a running buddy. So who do you think I recruited? Someone that was with me over the last two years, watching all of my attempts, seeing my flaws and encouraging me every step of the way- Jesus. I started running and praying out loud because He is right there beside me. And guess what?! I ran 1/2 mile, easy, no problem. All it took was me slowing down my pace and breathing through my mouth! Two days later I did a mile. It may have been at a turtle’s pace, but I ran it no stopping!

     Now I am up to doing two miles! But even this process has been a journey full of twists and turns.

     I started running for physical reasons, then turned to Jesus to be my running buddy and have now discovered that running is more mental than anything else.

     For the past ten years, I have been in quick fix mode. Hurry up and lose weight, hurry up and make money, hurry, hurry, hurry to the destination. This I would refer to as my “hare mode.” In a rush to go no where. I have been consumed with the destination and not paying attention to the journey.

     So many of my problems are inside my head, my thoughts defeat me and satan knows this and uses it to his advantage. He whispers so many lies. I can’t even tell you how many times I have said to myself, “I don’t want to, or I don’t feel like it.” I have heard those thoughts while running. Now I speak back and say, but you can do it and I know you can, keep going. So I do- I push forward & just do it! I surprise myself every step of the way.

I run the race marked out for me, Hebrews 12:1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12:1&version=NIV

     Update:  Friday, May 6th, 2011    A few weeks ago, I  embarked upon a new challenge- to rise & shine at 4:15 am in order to run with my running crew at RRC (Rockwall Running Center) at 5 am.  I discovered very quickly that even though we started out as a group, that many of the runners are elite athletic machines and I found myself alone in the dark.  It was very scary.  A leaf would scuttle across the sidewalk and I about fell down trying to look around to see who or what that was!  I decided right then, I don’t want to do this again.  So I could quit right?  But there were so many benefits to getting up that early, I found myself being so much more productive during the day.  So the tenancious pitbull that I am, decided to gather a group of “turtles.”  This would be MY running crew, those who ran a 5 mph pace (aka a 12 min. mile).  I got an amazing response- outstanding in fact!  So over the past two weeks, the “turtles”  have been running together- no one left behind in the dark!  Goal accomplished!!

     I am up to running 2-4 miles on a regular basis and my goal for tomorrow is to do 5 miles on my own.  Again, this is a big mental goal for me, but I believe I can do it!

Here is a little visual inspiration:  I designed this ring based on my very first 5K in Sept. 2010

All “turtles”  BELIEVE they can cross the finish line!

** A big thank you to Jim Hardin, The View From Here journalist for the Herald Banner (Rockwall, TX).  I received a mention in his article:  “This runner – a turtle and proud of it”

Enjoy,

Deidra {Dee Dee} Roe