An Uphill Battle

We had a tease of spring weather this past week. I knew the morning would be warmer and my running friend was unable to meet me for our Saturday run so I took advantage of the opportunity to set my own pace on a longer run. I have been sticking to my 5K distance but decided to double it to a 10K. The first mile started out pretty good, feeling almost effortless. Mile 2 did not feel quite that easy, but Mile 3 was the best out of the entire run. Mile 4 had me a bit worried when I began to feel calf and hip pain in my right leg. As I made a left turn from one country road on to the next, I was met with some rolling hills. I was concerned that I wouldn't make it the whole way. I went back and forth between thinking, "Only two more miles" and "Oh my goodness, two whole miles left (deep sigh)." My husband was on call in case I needed to be picked up. I told myself to take it easy, walk the hills and run the downhills. The pain didn't simply disappear on the downhills, so it wasn't as easy as I tried to convince myself it would be. Mile 5 leveled out and was better. I had to make decisions of the route I would take back to the house. I didn't want to run much more than the 6.2 miles, but I didn't want to get back to the house and be short in distance either. I chose wisely. I would like to say the last 1.2 miles went smooth, but my legs were sore, and I was tired. I was very happy to see my house.

As any runner knows, there are so many thoughts that go through your head on a run, and you can feel a different emotion from one minute to the next. I think that just being human, certain days can hit you like that as well. Some weeks feel like an uphill battle. They are slow and tiring, no matter how much effort you are putting forth, it feels like nothing is accomplished and you are no further ahead. Since it is the first week of March, I would like to track the progress of my goals.

1. Spiritual - Read through the book of Romans each week for 4 weeks.

I have completed the entire book of Romans four times since the first week of February. Check! (I will be moving on to the book of Matthew for March, reading through it in its entirety two times during the month.)

2. Physical - Run or walk a 5K three to four times a week and complete my physical therapy exercises three times a week.

All 5K's were completed. There was one week that I only did the PT two times and there is no good excuse for this. I was just tired. However, I would still say I have been successful in completing this goal as well. Check!

3. Emotional - Starting each day with the Bible App's "daily refresh", and a weekly worship song.

I am sticking to this but need to be more intentional about listening to the lyrics of the song and letting it set the mood for the day as well as carefully reading the devotion to allow it to guide my day. Check!

4. Blog - publishing a blog post weekly on Sundays. 

There has been a blog published weekly since the new year. Check!

5. Nutrition - a 12-hour eat/12-hour fast plan. I am happy to report that I have been successful in implementing this, beginning this past week. I have stopped reading the "Trim, Healthy Mama Plan" (Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison). I was understanding the concept but began to feel overwhelmed when it came to the specifics of what and what could not be eaten together, especially with being so picky with my individual tastes. Instead, beginning this past week, I went back to the basics of counting calories, while trying to be more conscious of the food groups in my meals. Instead of waiting until bedtime to eat my very sugary snack, I switched to a morning and afternoon snack, choosing less sugary, more satisfying options. I did go down 7 pounds on the scale this week but, from past attempts, I know that is not an accurate picture of what's to come. However, I am determined to stick with this. As I get better, I hope to keep track of my meals by writing them down. Who knows, maybe they will actually be beneficial to someone in the future but, at the very least, it will make it easier for me to choose what to eat based on calories alone. I will continue to educate myself on healthier food plans, trying to find one that works for me, choosing the foods that God placed here on earth for us to eat. Just like God's plan of salvation and everything else He has provided for us, nutrition really shouldn't be so complicated. 

I will keep plugging away at this uphill battle, and I invite you to join me in whatever you are facing. When we are tired and feel like giving up, we only need to call on God. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.” Proverbs 18:10 (CSB) I pray for each one of you. Pause, rest in the presence of God and then get out there and keep chugging along. Walk those hills and run those downhills, even if they can be painful as well. One day we will reach that finish line!