Training Lull

So I started to feel sick one week and decided to lay low on the running - well, that week led into the snowstorm week and now I find myself having gone 2 weeks without a long run (which to me means over 4 miles).  I am very frustrated with myself.  Tomorrow I need to kick it in high gear and run a lot again.  I am nervous and anxious about the run. Today, I opened up my email to read the following from the "Cellcom GB Marathon: First Timers Newsletter"

"If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done."  - Vince Lombardi

...and it hits me.  I've always struggled with believing in myself, I wouldn't describe myself as courageous and I really honestly don't have much of a competitive drive.  I'm the person who drives the competitive people crazy because I don't really care if we keep score, having fun is more important to me.  And if I am totally honest, I don't really like to sacrifice things (like my coffee, bad food choices and all the time it's taking to train) even though I am seeing how it is worthwhile.  (not coffee - that WILL remain!)  So how will I do this half marathon?  Well I am dedicated and I am determined - so at least I got that goin' for me! :)

 It also makes me think (as it is Good Friday today) of someone else who had courage, determination, dedication and was willing to sacrifice it all to pay the price for something that is worthwhile.  It says in the Bible that Jesus went to the cross "for the joy set before him endured the cross" -- he did that because he knew it was God's will, God's way to bring us back into relationship with him again.  Jesus was dedicated to die so that you may live and he was determined to restore the relationship that was broken because of sin.  That is truly good and is what makes today Good Friday.

And I love the rest of that verse - I like to think about it when I run:

...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

I will get back into the swing of things and off this lull - I may not have all those qualities Vince was talking about, but I am glad that I have a God who loved me so much that he went to the cross, died in place and now I am perfect in his sight.  Crazy!