a metaphor for life…
I always get a little wary when I feel like experiences I’m facing are a metaphor for life. Like ok, does it have to be this painful to learn this? And when does this metaphor end? and when in “life” is this going to be actually helpful? Are we always going through “life tests” or just sometimes? Regardless, it is still worth trying new adventures. Even if it feels accomplishing just to say I tried it.
I got inspired about eight months ago and signed up for a half marathon with a friend. I had plenty of time to train, we could make it a fun weekend, and that feels great to say I accomplished something new! Six months later, I had not trained at all, this friend and I weren’t even speaking, and I realized it was TRAIL run. Much different than a road race, as I learned from my marathoner friends. I was really bummed out.
I recruited a new running buddy, explored Redding trail runs on the weekends, and reached out to new friends to travel with me to the race. By the time weekend came, I was exhausted. My days at work had been so full. The trail running shoes I ordered for the race didn’t fit, and I was worried I had not trained enough for the 13 miles! But I found some new friends who wanted to spend the weekend in beautiful Calistoga, so off we went.
The night before the race I barely slept. I woke up the next morning wondering why I was doing this race at all. I didn’t feel prepared. Why am I doing this random half marathon? I felt like this race was a metaphor for life and I was so nervous. Nervous I wouldn’t finish. Nervous I would twist my ankle. Nervous about doing the trail by myself.
But I was about to enter a whole new world…
The adrenaline of the other runners, the beauty of the redwood forests, and the tranquil sound of the streams around me as I ran had me falling in love. As I started off, I felt the Lord say, “it’s easier than you think”. And it was. The trail was hard, but I walked up hills when I needed to. My original friend didn’t do the race with me, but I had three friends along with me cheering me on as I crossed the finish line! I started crying on my second lap just realizing the beauty of the trail and feeling the Lord’s presence on the run. It felt incredibly accomplishing to cross that finish line. I finished at about 11 minute per mile pace, which was much faster than I had been training. To end it all, we went for a beautiful dinner in downtown Napa at the end of the night. It was one of the best 24 hours of my life.
I decided… I’m officially hooked, and am already planning my next half marathon. Sometimes things aren’t as impossible as they seem or as hard as I imagine them to be. And I find I’m just as prepared as I need to be.