26 Things I Learned Training for a Marathon

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!

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Last week, I experienced a miracle.

I ran an official full marathon. And didn’t die.

I am not trying to be all “look-at-me-I-am-awesome,” but for a former (very) fluffy asthmatic gal, who, eight years ago couldn’t even run a quarter-mile to save her life, running 26.2 miles (with hills!) and living to tell about it is kind of a big deal.

And ALL the glory goes to God. Every. Single. Ounce.

Because there is no way on God’s green earth I could have done this without His prompting, perseverance, promise and presence.

For the most part, I did ALL my marathon training by myself (well, just me and Jesus.) That’s right, hundreds of miles logged solo-ish. Which means I had LOTS of time to think. (Sometimes that is dangerous…)

So now, I would like to share with you 26 things I learned in pursuit of this God-sized dream of conquering a marathon.

Anything worth doing is going to be hard… Sometimes, REALLY hard. But it will be totally worth it.
Pickle juice shots starting on mile 11 are like manna from heaven. (Side note for my non-running peeps out there… I am not a weird who just drinks pickle juice for the fun of it. Pickle juice helps with avoiding muscle cramps due to sodium depletion… And as a Whole30 gal, I don’t normally have much sodium in my system to spare. #FunFact)
I know God made the heavens and the earth, but when I am running uphill, I am convinced that Satan had a hand in THAT.
Good shoes are mucho importante.
It is a scientific fact that obnoxiously colored shoes make you run faster.
And so do pretty fingernails. (This also increases your survival rate in marathon running as well.)
Some training runs are going to suck or be missed completely. Don’t panic. Keep calm and run on (when you can.)
Rest is vital. Physical, spiritual, mental, emotional.
When God says no to a long run and tells you to literally jump in the lake, do it. You won’t regret it.
Pray from a place of faith, not fear, holding tight to the truth that the One who called you IS faithful and He WILL do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Use Body Glide. And lots of it.
Relax the face and hands when running. Especially on super-duper long runs. Because you will need all the extra energy you can get, so don’t waste it on scowling faces or clenched hands.
Develop a mantra. (Mine was from Isaiah 6:8… “SEND ME!” Well, that and “Please don’t let me die…”)
I prayed for people on each mile of my run. It is a great distraction, made me focus on something other than the eleventy billion miles, and it blessed others when I shared that fact later.
LOOK BOTH WAYS WHEN CROSSING THE STREET. (Or you might meet Jesus. Like NOW.)
When a super long run is complete, be ready to walk like a newborn giraffe for a couple of days.
Pray. Before. During. After. (Repeat.)
Focus on breathing. And for all you asthmatics out there, bring your inhaler– because at Mile 16 of your marathon, albuterol will be like a breath of spring air to your tired, hill-laden lungs.
Enlist cheerleaders. Not just for race day, but for encouragement and prayer support for the weeks/months of training prior.
Transition from living to eat to eating to live.
Hot baths. And Naps. #NuffSaid
Make a really cool training schedule. One so cool that when you look at it, it gets you excited. (Well, excited as ANYONE can get about running more than two dozen miles by oneself.)
Be prepared that undertaking a physical task this monumental will undoubtedly be an emotional journey. (I once cried three times on one of my longest runs. And only one of those cries was from weariness/discouragement.)
Drink water. Lots and lots of water.
Cliff Shot Bloks are delicious. And a helpful energy supply.
Legit tunes are a must. And have a theme song or two. Ones that when they come on, they can bring you back from any slump.

And for the “Point two” bonus lesson: TRUST GOD. This isn’t his first rodeo.

Dear friends, I am still in shock that Jesus called me to this and really, truly made it happen. (I have the medal, pictures and exhausted muscles to prove it.) Running a marathon has challenged me in ways I never imagined, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. (Seriously. It was one of the most difficult things I have every done in my life. Second only to birthing a tiny human with no pain meds. #Ridiculous)

But I stand (ok, sit– my legs are still tired!) in awe of a God who calls us to follow Him on faith. To learn with Him. Lean on Him. Run with Him. From the moment the gun goes off until we cross that finish line at heaven’s gate.

Thank you Lord, for SENDING ME on this fitness journey.

Running for Christ,

“…My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. ” ~Acts 20:24