Let Peace rule

12/12/15

As promised, I am posting a word for the day written by Pastor Joyce.  She often has words of wisdom that calm any storm.  Tomorrow,  Sunday 12/13/15 I will run my marathon.  I will be running the Dallas Metro PC marathon in Dallas, Texas.  Since the last post my anxiety about the race has gone from worry about whether or not I would make my time, to fear of disappointing those cheering for me, to getting sick the day of my intended race (11/8/15).  What ensued after that was having to extend my training another 5 weeks!  

Now one may think this is horrible, but in all honesty it wasn't.  In fact the most awesome part was that in those 5 weeks I found peace.  The belief that I might not even finish disappeared the day we ran our 22 mile training run two weeks after the failed marathon attempt.  Interestingly, the 22 mile run that our group had previously done included an asthma attack and walk/running the last 10 miles.  But this time, I had no issues.  I needed to be anxious for nothing. And more so, I finished and went on to have a very full day with my family. It's funny how we can so easily let our thoughts consume our sense of peace. 

Now I have been writing about my running.  But there is so much more to life than running.  In fact running a marathon is nothing compared to some of the things we face in life.  Illness, financial messes, job loss, family difficulties, terror, war, and fill in the blank, are all part of our daily lives.  However, there is a peace that passes understanding.  Pastor Joyce's thought for the day so appropriately speaks to this peace.  And with that I share,  Let Peace Rule. 

God Bless!  

12/12/10

Let Peace Rule

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4 6-7).

In the midst of every storm, snow, terror, war, gas prices, foreclosures, job loss, or injustice God will make a way.  He sees the end from the beginning and regardless of how things appear He is in complete control.  The assurance that He will carry us through, over or around every circumstance of life is the anchor that holds us steadfast and will give us peace of mind.

Jesus said to let this peace rule in your hearts…and be thankful.  Most of us think too much and thank too little.  When we have peace ruling our hearts in the middle of a crisis the world stands up and takes notice.  This is supernatural, the world can’t give it, can’t take it away and the world can’t comprehend it!

Peace is a choice that we must make; therefore capture negative, unbelieving thoughts that would magnify the problem rather than the promise.  God, our Father knows what we need and He will make a way for you.

The Race! The Finish!

Life is a race isn' t it?  22 weeks of training, plus 2 weeks of taper all to get ready for this fabulous race.  The race I didn't even get to start.  I'll never know why, but I definitely took my mom's advice.
Remember Lesson number 6?  Activate Plan B when Plan A fails.

So I did.  As I sat here disappointed, with tears in my eyes, thinking "now what/", I decided- Dallas Marathon!  It is 34 days from today.  I can definitely extend the training 5 more weeks, and I'll be there.  I't funny how things work with athletic endeavors.  Sometimes we have setbacks.  Sometimes we get sick.  And sometimes, we get injured or other things happen.  But in life, it is just one day in the presence of so many.  So, I have a lot of days to go to get to this goal of mine.  It is my sincere hope to run Boston when I am 50.  That means I have until Sept 1 of 2016 to qualify!  So- onward and upward!  I still press on toward the mark (finish line) to which I have been called heavenward.  That mark is using the talents I've been given to follow HIS plan for my life, and honor HIM in the process.  What a  joy it is to know that all my talents are so beyond ME and that because of HIM I am who I am.  I've always believed that.  But I can say, I may have never learned that without the mentoring, teaching, and modeling of my mom.

Let's finish her Journey!  

Part 7 The Finish! from Twenty-six things I learned running a marathon By Joyce Wyrostek

Lesson 23 – Like a woman in labor no lumbering runner wants to hear “one last push”. I was just about to cross the twenty sixth mile when someone came up and put their hand on my shoulder.  Now the rules of the game are that fans can run alongside of you to the finish but if they help you in any way you will be disqualified.  I was about to thrust an elbow in the gut of my possible disqualifier when the familiar voice of my son-in-law said, “Congratulations grandma you’ve about got her licked.”  Whew, glad my reflexes were slow.  He told me that my daughter had finished a couple of hours ago and she was standing at the turn just before the final .2 miles.

“One last push” as a departing comment almost earned him the mid-section punch anyway but I didn’t have the energy to follow him and get back on course.  I was simply too close to being done to concern myself with anything else.

Lessons 24 – Family makes all the difference – I was thrilled to see my daughter standing at the corner.  She hollered “Way to go mom”. She didn’t join me for the final jaunt to the finish line she had just run 26.2 miles and wasn’t feeling like moving much herself.  She did encourage me to kick it though and I told her I just couldn’t and I was telling the truth.

I had gone a few more yards when another daughter joined me on the right.  She said she would run the last of it with me but she couldn’t go over the line with me.  She skipped like a young deer at my side and said, “Look at me I’m running in Grandma’s marathon”.  Quite a thrill for a girl who never ran more than a half mile in her entire 35 years of life.

Her presence took my mind off of myself completely and I was happy for the company, I could see the finish line and I desperately tried to pick up my pace but to no avail. 

Lesson 25 – The race is not always to the swift but to those who keep on going. Finally it was over I almost wanted to cry when an official handed me my medal and T Shirt that said, “Finisher”. I was grateful that it did not post the time on either.  For those of you who are curious as to just how long it did take me, you don’t need to know.  All that’s really important is that I finished.

I’m only kidding; my official time was 6 hours and 22 minutes.  I did not qualify for Boston but I finished the whole thing without assistance and I cheated the ambulance out of trip to the hospital.  My hip was now hurting much more than my leg.  I later found out that there was really nothing wrong with my ham string.  It was all in the Gluteus Maximus region that caused the pain to run down my leg so the brace that chaffed my leg had been quite unnecessary

Lesson 26 – No journey is taken alone, and the victory belongs to everyone.  There was none of the usual celebration on site after the run, the food tables were taken down, and there were few drink stations. I picked up a couple bottles of water and made my way to the tent that had my bag with a change of clothes, the bars I had forgotten to pocket before the race and my flip flops which was my primary concern.

There was still a crowd of people but we had arranged ahead of time where we would meet everyone and try to head home as soon as the race was over. We made our way through the maze and stood waiting for our driver to pick us up.  Once we were on the road the stories began.  Those who had not run shared the excitement of watching the first runners cross the finish line. They talked aboutconversations they had overheard from runners that were gathering with families at the finish.  We discussed victories and defeats and shared some good laughs.

I got to hear all the concerns they had about me.  Everyone knew my leg was hurting before we ever got to the start of the course so they were texting messages to others who were watching my progress on the internet. When I had not crossed the half way mark by three hours my non-running daughter said she was certain I was camped in an emergency vehicle awaiting transport.  Then she received a text from my coach in Missouri and she cheered.  My running daughter said, “I would have been so upset if you had not finished this marathon after all you’ve put into it.”

When I heard how many people were “tuned in” to my journey I was grateful that I had won the physical and mental battles all along the course.  And I realized that I was never alone; I had a whole cheering section that breathed a sigh of relief and raised their arms in victory with me when I crossed the line.

News of my completion traveled swiftly across the airwaves and I began to receive congratulation from all over the country by text.  Interestingly no one really got too concerned about how long it took me they were just happy I finished.  So I put disappointment aside and celebrated with them.  I wore my FINISHER T Shirt for three days.

There is a day coming for all of us when we will cross the finish line of life.  How well we do and how strong we finish is all about the choices we make on the journey.  We can finish with regret or complete satisfaction of having done our best.  I am looking forward to the day when I will hear the creator say, “Well done.”  Until then I have an extraordinary life to live.

Joyce did live an extraordinary life.  She accomplished many, many, many things.  First Woman in MN to earn a blackbelt in Judo, National Water Ski Champion- Jumping, Chief Judge of the National Water- Ski Tournament, Inductee into the National Water-Ski Hall of Fame, Pastor, Teacher, Minister.  But she would tell you none of that was important.  The only thing important in life is that she knew Christ.  The verse at the top of our Blog is her life verse.  She lived everyday, for everyone as though she would run the race for LIFE.  Life with her creator. 

This blog will continue with her archived words for the day.  Thank
you for following her Journey.

10 hours to the Start!

That moment when you just aren't sure you are going to get to the starting line!  That's my current reality.  My husband Mark and I picked up my packet today.  We found the start of the race, drove as much as we could, and even dropped a pin at the 8 mile spot.  He is planning on cheering from that spot since the course is an out and back.  This means I will pass it at mile 8 and approx mile 18.  

My Gear is Ready

We had a wonderful day together and fully enjoyed ourselves.  We even walked a small section of the course.  It is going to be just beautiful.  So why should I worry that I won't reach the starting line?  My stomach.  It is still hurting.  The pain subsided enough during the day that I was sure the pains were simply a passing thing.  But then, I hadn't eaten all day.  Now we all know that that is not good the day before a marathon.  One has to make sure to hydrate and fuel properly.  Hydration was no problem.  But fueling? That didn't happen until 3:00 and shortly after it set off a  firestorm in my stomach.  Mark reminded me that whatever happens, God will have me where I am supposed to be tomorrow.  He reassured me that if I am unable to run tomorrow there will be other races.  So, we still have 7 hours to sleep, and 3 hours to ready myself.  Still hoping! Still praying.  My prayer, "

Thank you Lord for the wonderful opportunity to train for this day.  Thank you that no matter what happens, I will be where I am supposed to be."

Lesson 19 – Some things you can ignore, others catch your attention.  I successfully blocked out the desire for food with the remaining drops in the water bottle.  Then I saw a sign that read, “Toenails are really over-rated”.  One of the things most marathon runners experience is the loss of one or more toenails caused from the constant pounding against the shoes.  I thought of something I heard Jeff Foxworthy say in his comedy routine, “You shouldn’t wear flip flops if you have ugly feet, or your toenails are missing.

Rock n Roll 1/2 

I would not be able to make it through the rest of the summer without my flip flops.  I told myself how silly it was to be concerned about what Jeff Foxworthy said about fashion.  But still if he was right I did not want to lose any of my toenails.  I figured since I had walked over half way that probably wouldn’t happen.  Three weeks later that theory proved wrong…but, I still wore my flip flops deciding I did not care what others thought.  If they made a comment I would let them know I lost it running a marathon. That would shut them up.  People usually don’t comment on stuff like that anyway unless they are standing up in front of an audience trying to make them laugh.

There are a great many things in life we should not concern ourselves with.  The biggest one is being so concerned with what other people think or say that causes us to actually change personality to please others.  When we engage in that type of insanity it will become very difficult living free and being content with who we are because even we won’t know who that is.

Lesson number 20 – The last mile is filled with anticipation regardless of what has preceded it? The mile twenty five marker looked so good to me I knew my journey was nearly done and the fight would be over.  I wonder if that is how my loved ones have felt when their life’s journey was near an end.  That’s another story for another time.  Tired makes you think strange things at the oddest times.  Seriously mile 25 was sweet.  At all nine of my previous marathons runners that had finished the race ahead of me were near the course cheering the trailing runners on toward completion. 

Not today, by the time I reached this point the early crossers were long gone.  Most were probably done with their end of race massage, soaking their weary muscles in a tub of warm water, or relaxing in front of the TV.  Then I saw her; the grey haired lady in grey waving her flag and shouting, “Go 3100 you are almost there?”  This time I did match her enthusiasm with, “Wow, it’s you again, thanks for the encouragement.  I’m gonna do it!”

Lesson number 21 – When the music ends, keep on dancing there’s still a melody in the air.  The bands had left the final mile finale.  They had packed up their instruments at the sixth hour (five minutes ago).  There was one musician with his trumpet still uncased and someone hobbling along the course yelled, “Play us one more song.” He lifted the trumpet to his lips and I was expecting something from John Phillips Sousa, instead he sounded Milton Butterfield’s Taps (not the inspiring march I had in mind).

Now that’s sick humor, funny none the less, most of us still in the run got a good chuckle and it successfully took our minds off the pain our bodies were experiencing, even if only temporarily. 

Lesson 22 – Sometimes a steady pace is better than a sprint.  During that last half mile I found it encouraging that my walk had gained momentum as I swung my arms to help propel me forward and I was passing those who were running without much mobility. I gave my leg one last chance to perform, at least a simulated jog.  I gave it a forward thrust and made like a runner, when my foot hit the pavement pain shot up through my entire body and I feared I might fall down. 

Guess I would just have to gracefully limp across the finish line and hope that with the musician’s instruments the cameras were in their cases.

Stay tuned tomorrow!  Race day and Joyce's Finish!

7th  Habit Run For your Life

Less than 3 Days Left!

Oh My Gosh NO! PAIN- Stomach PAIN.  I spent my day Friday being very careful and very cautious about my activities and my diet.  I  went to work as usual and had planned an evening with my husband watching a favorite show or two, staying hydrated, and eating a very innocuous simple meal.  The problem- I never ate dinner.

Fort Worth Tropical 10 Miler

During lunch we had food catered in today.  I ate 1/2 tomato and provalone sandwich with pasta salad, apples, grapes, and 2 cookies.  I felt a little bit odd a couple hours after lunch, but I figured it was because I ate 2 cookies instead of 1 or none.  By the time I got home, my stomach hurt so badly that I thought I needed to take an antacid.  Needless to say.... It did not work.  I even decided that my 3 Days to go Blog would not get written because I could not sit up. I went to bed at 8:30 and well, here I am 4 hours later writing the blog.  Thus, PAIN is still in the works.

Now you may think this is the flu. But I am not convinced it is.  The reason?  I just got over the flu.  I spent 3 days in bed just less than 2 weeks ago.  One of our other coaches Clay joked, " Well now you have a forced taper."  He was right, I was really afforded the blessing of just being off my feet with no other worries but sleeping.  But now... oh Dear!. Now is a different story.

The only thing running through my mind? "God, you are going to have to pull off a miracle, because there is no way I will be running Sunday let alone standing on Sunday if this pain isn't gone." So my prayer is. " Lord you have brought me this far, please get me to the finish line"  There is definitely a lesson in this.  My husband was pretty worried last night.  He patted my hand and told me not to worry.  He said, "Everything happens for a reason." Isn't that the truth.  In any case- God is faithful.  I still have 30  hours until the start!.  So if you are reading this, please say a prayer that whatever happens, it is where God wants me at that moment in time.

With that, let's enjoy Joyce's story.  It is so much more interesting.

Part 5 Twenty-six Things I learned Running a Marathon By Joyce Wyrostek

Lesson number 14 – When the end is in sight it doesn’t mean you’re done.  Well you may be done but you are not finished.  On this beautiful course, somewhere between miles twenty and twenty six I could see the balloons, hear the band and the announcer (sound carries far over water), and I knew the end was near.  When I looked up I saw the mile marker; my heart sunk, at the pace I was going I still had about an hour to go before the band would play for me.

Since I had made up my mind to finish, I tried to pick up my pace a little because I wanted to finish before all the officials left so I could lodge an informal complaint and see if I could convince them to either redirect the flow or cover the view of the finish line so far out.  It makes the last few miles feel much farther than they actually are.

When we focus on the finish without concentrating on the present it is very easy to get complacent and coast, if we can.  The years between retirement and the end of life can be like that if we are not careful.  The years past swiftly but the days will seem long if we are not giving every day our very best effort.

Lesson number 15 – Don’t listen to the hearsay that floats through the air.  Ever notice how non-participants have all the answers and often they convey the wrong information.  I was in my own world of thought when I heard a bystander shout to a runner.  He said, “If you don’t pick up the pace you won’t get counted as a finisher.  They are cutting it off at six hours.” 

Now my mind was flying in a different direction, now way would I get this done in six hours. Did that mean that the only one who knew I finished would be me (and God of course).  I questioned myself, would that matter?  Well YES it would matter, at this point I didn’t care how long it took me, I’d come too far to not even be counted as a finisher.  If this wasn’t going to count anyway they could just pick me up and deliver me to my ride home.

"Determined" Grandma's Marathon- Duluth  

The no longer racers, but walkers were discussing the disturbing news speculating that if they were going to shut off the clock and close the race they would surely pick up the remaining participants. There were still hundreds of runners ahead of me. I turned my head to get a glance behind me there were just as many runners trailing me, far too many for them to pick up. I really didn’t want to keep running if it was going to count for nothing.

The rumor mill is generally filled with negative thoughts and comments.  I have heard that your life doesn’t really count for anything once you’ve finished your productive years, unless you know how to knit.  What a lie, no one ever loses their impact on changing the world if they keep engaged and up to date with the changes taking place all around us. 

Lesson number 16 – Don’t let distractions hinder your progress.  Prior to that moment I had picked up my walking pace just so I could get done sooner.  The left side of my brain began to tell me slow down and take it easy if they aren’t going to count this any way you can sit down and wait for the shuttle.  My right brain said, “Get moving faster and see if you can make the six hour mark.”

“What?”  My body responded, “Haven’t I been punished enough, just stop this silly nonsense and lay me down.”

“No way,” right brain replied, “You can rest all day tomorrow and the next day if need be…today you have a race to complete.”

OK so things get a little strange after five and a half hours moving but making slow forward progress.

The older we get the more of these conversations we have in our minds.  Our mental capacity doesn’t slow down nearly as quickly as the body.  We have to actually talk to ourselves with encouragement to get up and exercise.  No one else is going to get you there…they usually tell you at your age you need to slow down, rest more and treat your body carefully, after all you are old. You don’t have to listen to anyone but yourself and I keep telling myself I am only as old as I feel…until I look in the mirror.  I try not to engage in any long episodes in front of that lying glass.

Lesson 17 – Those who meet your needs along the way may surprise you.  The water stations were closing down and I was so thirsty, or maybe I was hungry.  I had forgotten to put a power bar in my pocket and I wasn’t sure about the gel packs they had offered along the route so I had passed them up.  Without water I wouldn’t have wanted that kind of nourishment anyway. 

Just when I was about to throw myself a real pity party a little girl maybe six or seven appeared out of nowhere. She held out a whole bottle of water, I quickly scanned the area thinking maybe some adult was going to take it from her and pour some of it in one of those inadequate little cups that cause you to wear half the contents.  She said in a sweet voice, “Are you thirsty?”

I answered, “You bet I am sweetie, thank you so much,” I took the bottle and added, “Are you an angel?”

She stepped shyly back and as I continued on my journey I heard her excitedly tell the female adult beside her, probably her mother. “She called me an angel!” We made each other’s day.

Lesson 18 – The body does strange things in response to its senses.  The course was now taking us down the streets of Duluth.  Over half of the runners had finished the race and were settled into a tasty meal in one of the quaint water front restaurants.  The smells filled the air and my stomach began to remind me that it had been six hours since our last meal with a loud growl. “Quiet” I shouted, “You are not hungry.”

 I had learned that if you speak out loud to yourself you can even control the hunger urge.   The volume of my ipod caused me to speak a lot louder than I thought.  A generous bystander stepped out and offered me a hot dog (he was holding three of them).  My mind shouted out, “Are you serious dude? Even on a good day I wouldn’t feed this fine-tuned body one of those delicious fat ridden delicacies.  I ignored my mind and smiled politely as I said, “No thank you”.  My stomach rebelled with another growl.

Resisting temptation for things that are not good for our bodies is a discipline that should be practiced all through life.  When you are resolved to such life choices there are thousands of triggers aimed and ready to fire getting you to abort your determination.  Smell is a big one, but the memory of taste will make your mouth water just thinking about the Hot Fudge Sunday with real whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top.  Excuse me while I wipe my chin.

Stay tuned.  Whether I run on Sunday or not. We will finish Joyce's Journey together :)

4 Days to Fort Worth

Tonight the excitement of my race came to me full force.  Patrice, my bible study leader was so excited for me.  She is a runner herself and also quite an inspiration.  She truly knows what it means to qualify for Boston as she has done it several times.  I stand in awe!  Here I am hoping for a second qualifier.  

As I was thinking about my second possible qualifying time, I thought of my mom's many lessons.  "Enjoy the journey" she would often say.  She had such a passion for the beauty of God's creative

Rock n Roll Half 2013 with Teagan

wonders.  She never missed the opportunity to inspire in us the desire to explore what God had made.  When I look back on this, it is probably why I loved running so much.  I wish I could have taken a picture of the sky every time I ran to show the beauty of God's majesty.  I remember one run in particular in late October in MN.  There must have been a meteor shower because all I remember is counting the number of "falling stars"  It was awesome.  And running in the winter in MN is amazing.  The air is crisp and fresh, and if you run really early in the morning in the darkness, sometimes you can watch the Northern Lights. Every time I saw the wonders of the earth the lyrics "Shout for Joy to God all the earth sing glory to his name", would run through my head.

There is a lot of running in the dark in MN.  The days are short from December to April and one typically wakes, drives to work, and returns from work in the dark.  My favorite part of running in the dark is being alone with my thoughts.  There was a time that being in the dark was terrifying for me, but one day my mom shared that God is always there in the darkness.  I would later cherish that dark morning hour as there was no-one else in the world outside at that time and I could enjoy the fullness of God without any distractions.  

Today I ran again in the dark morning hours.  But today I was showered with a little rain.  As I was running I was thinking of today's blog and felt I should share that my mom loved to run in the rain.  And she would always sing Gene Kelly's "Singing in the Rain".  So, I sang while I ran!.  Thanks mom!  

Well, enough about me.  It's time to share her lessons again. Enjoy the journey with her as shares her adventure. 

Part 4: Twenty-Six Things I Learned Running a Marathon By Joyce Wyrostek

Race for the Cure Tyler, TX The Girls!

Lesson number 8 – Regardless of trials involved one must enjoy the journey.  The course for Grandma’s Marathon is adjacent to Lake Superior’s north shore.  Occasionally the sun would peak out from the clouds, there would be a break in the trees and I could see the vast waters of the great lake and drift off in the wonder of its beauty.  I was grateful for the opportunity to grasp this sight at a pace where I could drink it all in. It made the task at hand much less grueling and I thanked God for the distraction.

Occasionally on this beautiful day there would be a light mist to cool down the runners.  Normally I don’t care for being misted even on a very hot day but today it was a welcomed relief. 

Seeing a silver lining in every cloud is another discipline worth cultivating.  Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His plan.” To me this is life’s silver lining.  It means that there is always something good that will happen even if we mess it up. I had a friend one time that added to that verse with her own nugget of gold by saying, “None of us should ever think we are big enough to mess up the plans God has made for us.”

 Lesson number 9 – In the long run, some will not make it.  Between miles eighteen and twenty the emergency personnel were busy with fallen runners.  Some had obviously pulled muscles while others looked like they were suffering exhaustion, and there were the common blistered feet.  I felt empathy for the runners who had come so far and had to end the race without experiencing the joy of crossing the finish line.  I got serious with my petition and asked God to help me stay strong until the end.  I asked Him to protect my body from harm and guard my mind to keep it from sabotaging my completion.

 “I believe there is more to this challenge than I know right now and I will be perfectly content with the outcome if I know I have given my best, and put the rest in your hands, not my will but yours be done”, I prayed.

I have seen friends, family members, and acquaintances die or drop out of life’s race too soon (at least in my estimation) without actually making that choice.  Accidents, sickness, and disease invade every culture and if we get too caught up in grief, compassion and concern (not that these are not important) we can destroy our own chance of fully living life. Others wiser than me have said, “The only failure in life is to quit before you’re finished.”

Lesson number 10 – Laughter makes the heart glad, and adds strength.  Shortly before mile twenty I passed a poster that read, “Cemetery Ahead, Look Alive!” I got so tickled I laughed out loud as I pondered the thought.  The timing for that sign couldn’t have been more perfect. Every runner still in the race had their own story, mental reasoning, and physical challenge.  There weren’t many of us looking very lively at the moment.

I had a smile on my face when I thought about the creative mind that came up with that poster line and thought to place it in the right place at the right time.  From my right I heard a woman shout, “Way to go number 3100 you’ve got it now.”  She was wearing a grey sweatshirt, here hair was grey, and she was waving a flag like a cheerleader, a lot more enthusiastic than any of the other sideline fans.  I acknowledged her with thumbs up and said thank you trying to match her excitement. 

Twin Cities Marathon 1983

If you want the cheering section to be rooting for you, you should at least look like you are enjoying what you are doing.  It has been said that if you practice smiling your body responds.  Other people respond to smiles too and I think they want to run alongside of you, maybe not in a marathon, but in the more sane avenues of life. I am fairly certain that the woman in grey was captured by my smile, she had no way of knowing I was just using it to look alive.

Lesson number 11 – When the way seems long, it is, so keep the goal in view! Mile twenty was in sight and my time was somewhere in the vicinity of four hours and forty five minutes.  At a ten minute mile an hour pace I could finish in less than six hours.  What in the world was I thinking I wasn’t running any longer I was finishing this long run with a walk and my pace had slowed to about a 15 minute mile.

I ran some fuzzy calculations in my head and realized that I still had a long way to go; six miles takes more time to walk than it does if you’re running.  I put a familiar six mile course in my head and started counting off the distance.  There was no quitting now; if I didn’t break down physically I knew I would finish this race because my mind was fully made up.

For the over sixty crowd the end of the journey is longer, slower, and more challenging than the beginning.  Those first sixty years pass so quickly many of us forget the significant moments that got us to this juncture.  For us the greatest trial is realizing that the first part is just preparation for our greatest hour which doesn’t actually happen until we have crossed the finish line.  The ultimate goal is never dying it is living a fulfilled life.  Les Brown put it this way, “I refuse to die an unlived life!”  And I concur.

Lesson number 12 – There are always some advantages to going slower.  Besides the opportunity to enjoy the view, it is difficult to find something good to be thankful for when you feel tired, beat up and ready for a well-deserved nap.  It is easy to become negative spirited, grumpy even.  I needed to find something positive to think about.  It came to me at the next watering spot. 

When you are running at speed it is very difficult to catch the cup without spilling half the contents. When you’re walking you can enjoy the full impact of the cool liquid making its journey into your cells. The runners that had gone before me had splashed Gatorade all over the street and if I had been running I might have run out of my shoes as they stuck to the sticky mess, I was thankful that I could navigate the spills and avoid leaving my soles behind.

When it was said, we should slow down and smell the roses it’s true.  There are some things in life that can only be enjoyed when we focus in on the blessings that surround us.  That is not always easy because our mind is coaxing us to rush, accomplish, and experience more. In this rapid pursuit we miss the pleasures that are right in front of us.

When we are young we are always in a hurry, we simply don’t want to miss anything.  As the years pass, if you have whirled through the decades and enjoyed the drive thru meal in the car speeding to the next meeting, you know what I am talking about.

Lesson number 13 – The closer you get to the end the smaller the crowd.  It is not uncommon all along the sidelines of the marathon course to see clustered groups gathered to support one of the runners, some of the runners or all of those daring to engage in this great feat. It’s amazing from Two Harbors to Duluth how many people dot the sidelines to watch the runners. However after the fast runners have passed or their favorite has gone on many (most) depart and either head home or move on toward the finish line. 

The upside is there are not so many people witnessing your agonizing pursuit to the finish. But the downside is there are fewer and fewer calling out your number and shouting the encouraging words, “You can do it!” Thus begins the lonely road.

I heard a faintly familiar voice yelling, “Number 3100, you’ve got this!” I looked up and there she was the grey haired lady in the grey sweatshirt waving her flag. I’m not sure if she knew she was rooting for the same runner twice but I enjoyed the thought of my own personal fan club.

Sometimes we don’t see them but there are people dotting the roadway of our lives cheering us to the end and wishing us the success of finishing strong.   The marathon is not the only challenge I have faced in my life (though I was smart enough not to share the challenge until I achieved victory).  When sharing the victory, some have said, “If anyone could do it we knew you could.”  Cool as it is I wonder how they know me better than I know myself.

Liana and her Girls.  

5 Days to the Finish!

All of the what if's have subsided.  Today I read my mom's next 5 lessons on what she learned I was reminded of so many things. Last night's run with Joan proved to be exactly what I needed.  She said when she doesn't worry about it, the run goes much easier.  I will be honest, my first fear is what if I don't qualify?  Really? Honestly I have not run a marathon for 20 years.  My last marathon was finished in 1995 in Duluth, MN at the Grandma's Marathon .  My time was 4:03


 It was a fabulous experience and my family and friends were there to encourage me.  I finished and no-one but me was disappointed with my time.  There is a beauty to age and qualifying for Boston.  The older you are the slower the allowed qualifying time.  So for me 3:50 is all I need.  It is possible.  Anything is possible.

I had forgotten the valuable lessons that my mother taught me over the years.  She always told me to press on toward the mark.  That is a quote from Philippians 3:14.  I never really understood that quote outside of the context of running until I was much older.  She would also say, sweetheart, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).  Yes I have heard a few pastors over the years scoff at that verse because it is so often used out of context.  But what if we are called to run the race?  What if the race we are called to run is a testimony to God's greatness and involves an athletic endeavor?  What if?

In my case running is definitely a gift.  It was a gift that my mother shared with all of us.  It was a gift that oddly enough each of us was blessed with. Not just as something to keep us healthy the rest of our lives, but the gift to run like the wind. There has never been a race in which I can honestly say "I" accomplished the feat.  But I can say HE strengthened me to accomplish not just the race, but the disciplinary journey that ensued as a result of the commitment.

So in the past two days I've shared how my mom began running, her preparation, and the first two lessons she learned.
Lesson number 1 – Decisions are never made in a vacuum
Lesson number 2 – Races, like life are filled with difficult choices


As you read the next 5 lessons, keep in mind, she ran this marathon with Cancer.  What amazes me the most is that all these things were going on in her mind and never once did she say even acknowledge that fact.  I admire her strength and resiliency.  Moreso, I awe at her resolve in the face of every Challenge. 

I hope you enjoy Part 3 of Twenty-Six things I learned Running a Marathon.

Part 3

Lesson number 3 – Try becoming humble before being humiliated.  Or, make sure you know you will succeed before you boast in the face of others.  About the fifth mile a lady passed me on the left and said, “I love your shirt” then another runner made the same comment.  I thought, “My shirt?” Oh No, more pressure!

Team 4:13.  My sisters and I

Several weeks before the race, right after I had completed a thirteen miler in two hours and was feeling rather cocky about having this marathon in the bag, my youngest daughter had the shirt made for me. The back of it read “When the going gets tough the sprinters drop out”.  A cool shirt if you’re running well but not the one to be wearing when you are grimacing in pain and seriously longing for an ambulance.

I crossed the six point two mile mark in over an hour, my all-time worst. It didn’t look real good for me at the moment and I certainly couldn’t prove myself a sprinter, or allow myself to be made a liar, since I wasn’t a drop out sprinter I would have to keep going. 

Someone wiser than me said, “It is better to let someone else sing your praises.” You’ve met those people who act like they know more, can do more, and have experienced more than anyone in the current crowd; plus they usually have advice on how everything should be done.  I think everyone is capable of accomplishing great things but we are all more impressed by those who are doing than those simply talking.

 If you are simply a spectator in life, you will never have your own testimony, you will just be telling someone else’s story. Each one’s personal journey through life is a story that rings of victory or defeat.  All have dreams and visions of what life could be like “if”.   If I had more money, was better looking, wasn’t so short or too tall.  All of these are excuses that keep one from the story that was scripted before they were even born.

The King of all creation has carefully designed each individual with a specific purpose in life.  He placed us on earth to build his Kingdom; to rule and reign with him.  He established the perfect time and place of our existence and laid out the plans that each person would fulfill.  Then, He promises to guide and direct the course of his design for anyone that will give him control, or hand him the steering wheel.

For this reason, the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 32, “Therefore let anyone who boasts, then boast in the Lord.” Meaning basically we are not always going to experience the results we expect…but with His help they will always have redeeming qualities.

Lesson numbers 4 – When it’s not working, change your approach.  I have delivered that message in business seminars, now I had an opportunity to determine its merit.  Mile eleven was nearly in sight and I knew that if I came down one more time with a jolt to my right leg I would break it. I will never understand why the body has to provide nausea with pain but it was there and I couldn’t shake it, so I went to the side of the course, brought up the contents of my breakfast and left it in the weeds. 

Back on course I tried to regain some momentum which wasn’t going to happen by running so I experimented with a different stride.  By keeping my right leg straight and swinging it slightly out to the side I could continue to move forward. I even tried side stepping but I was afraid I might trip myself, plus I know it looked a bit ridiculous to the viewers. When you feel the need to impress spectators you have to maintain some kind of dignity.

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results.  You must use another method to reach the desired outcome.  That means you should always know what result you are attempting to achieve and then do whatever it takes to get there. 

Joyce

I finally settled on a stride that I could endure and would eventually carry me two miles to my newly defined goal. 

Have you ever had life throw you a curve ball that you couldn’t hit unless you added two inches to the bat?  If you haven’t one day it will come fast and hard.  It is then that you have to dig deep inside and determine in your mind that one set back will not stop you from making the necessary adjustments needed to reach the lesser goal.  Failure must never equal defeat or you will find yourself benched and accomplishing nothing.

Lesson number 5 – Don’t focus on what you can’t do, just do what you can.  Mile thirteen registered just over three hours. By walking I was actually picking up my pace but I realized that goal number one was definitely out of the question.  Since I finally reached my declared quit point, I could gracefully bow out without having to apologize to anyone.  Just when I was about to make the gesture to the emergency vehicle to take me to the finish I was passed by someone wearing a T Shirt with writing on the back that said, “ When you think there is nothing left in you, there is.”  I didn’t get the name of the author but I got the message.  A new plan, I would go as far as I could go until there was nothing left in me before I quit.

Many times in life we quit when we have a lot left in us (probably more than we think).  I have known people who have quit living long before they died. It is a waste of air and space to drift through the years that can be our most productive because we think we have nothing left to offer.  An excellent life is created first in the mind.  That message alerted me to the fact I was trying to make excuses for giving up too soon.  I also realized that when we determine to continue there is always a message of encouragement which comes at just the right time.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews the writer highlights the lives of familiar people throughout the ages. Moses, Rahab, David and a host of others are commended for their faith as they made their way through incredible obstacles. Then in the twelfth chapter the author begins, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross…”

At any time during the greatest struggle of His life Jesus could have aborted his mission.  If He had, life as we know it would not exist.  So it is with people living today, if we prematurely quit before accomplishing our mission, those who follow in our wake may never experience the joys set before them.  We can be encouraged by the message presented in Hebrews. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t give up until, “It is finished.”

Lesson number 6 – Activate plan B when plan A fails. I was moving at about a fifteen minute mile pace, the pain was still there but hey I was about to mile fifteen, over half way, and not in an emergency vehicle.  Another runner who was having his own challenges made a statement that made me think. He said, “I’ve broken a new personal record, this is my 52^nd consecutive marathon in which I have failed to qualify for Boston.”  He added a funny quip saying, “Well actually I did qualify in the last one, I just had a hard time convincing the officials I was an 81 year old female.” Then he said to the person he was running with, “I’ll catch you at the finish.”

I knew at that moment I would work to finish this race.  I had succeeded in making it to my second goal but nothing needed to stop me from setting a new one; I would finish this challenge regardless of how difficult.  There will always be another day to revisit the goals of the past and determine if they are worthy of any further attention.  Right now I would focus on plan B.

Failure does not define success.  You may experience many disappointments in life that seem like miserable failures but the only real failure is not ever making the attempt.  There is always a plan B that leads to a successful conclusion.  Maybe not the success you were looking for but a winning finish none the less.

The statistics tell us that only 2 percent of the people ever complete a marathon. I was already in the top two percent of the general populace something that anyone should be proud of.  My coach was right in telling me all I had to do was finish.

Now I will pass on that information to you…”You’ve got this, all you have to do is finish.”   That is much easier to comprehend when you are in your twenties or thirties and at the top of life’s game with youth and vitality as your hover board.  But in the last half of your sixties it is ninety percent mental, mostly because over half of the population has found an easy chair to harbor their retired self.

Lesson numbers 7 – Sometimes the challenges in life are all mental.  By the time I reached mile sixteen I was fighting a fierce battle.  When I focused on the distance I needed to complete my pace would slow and I began to fear permanent damage to my body.  However, when I concentrated on each step and maneuvered in such a way that the pain was not too intense I could move faster.  The ten remaining miles seemed like a hundred in my mind and I knew I had to change my thinking on how far I had come instead of the distance remaining. 

By now my daughter had finished the race and everyone that had come traveled with us to Duluth would have to wait for at least two more hours. That was another thing I had to shake from my mind and hope my group would be happier with me finishing than disturbed at having to wait.

In life there are times when we are working hard toward our goal and we stop because we don’t want to disappoint or inconvenience others.  That is a mental adjustment you must make since it is impossible to know what another person is really thinking and you will never please everyone.  It’s important to be confident in your own choices and not be deterred by what you assume others think.  It’s a mental discipline to avoid being a people pleaser at the expense of personal achievement.

The finish of this feat now became quite important to me, yet I really did not want to selfishly inconvenience others.  So, I focused instead on what it might mean if I quit.  I would set an example one way or the other and I had to decide which example was more important to me.  Finishing strong has always been my motto so I set my mind on the ultimate prize.  I knew in my heart crossing the finish line was just as important to others as it was to me so I would not use any kind of excuse to prevent it.

Hudson Triathalon

6 Days and Counting

I am 6 Days away from my race and what happens?..... I have a case of the self doubts.  All that has run through my head is, What if I get injured?, What if my legs cramp?, What if I can't keep pace?,

What if I have an asthma attack?  I am really  not certain where all those thoughts came from because never in my life have I felt so nervous about a race.  Having been a competitor since I was 8 years old, competing, racing, winning, accomplishing my goals are just part of the process.  Yes the process.  Trust the process.  I believe I have heard that more times than I care to count, and yet

I am thankful for that process.  Tonight I arrived at my last Tuesday practice before my race.  My pace group was running farther tonight than I had scheduled on the final week taper. Jamie one of my coaches made sure I found a group that would be running my pace.  Her words stick with me on almost every run.  " Don't push the pace", " Trust the training program", "you can do this".  She really doesn't know how much that has empowered me.  I would remember a former coach- Steve Everhart- coaching much the same way.  He never let us down.  And neither has Jamie.  

I got into my group and ran with these two wonderful ladies.  I shared with them how nervous I was.  Joan, our pace leader said, "I learned a long time ago, that when I just didn't worry about it, I was a whole lot less nervous".  Those were the words I needed to hear tonight.  Because the self doubts were still running through my head.  And by the time our 60 minutes was over, I felt a whole lot more confident.

It's funny how our thoughts can get the best of us sometimes.  I am so grateful to have had a mother that would encourage every athletic endeavor I ever entered.  She was a true role model for women young and old.  Tackling every athletic opportunity, or for that matter every opportunity that she could, mom taught us commitment, perseverance, and tenacity.  Which is the perfect segway into Part 2.  

 Part 2 of The Twenty-Six Things I Learned Running a Marathon. By Joyce Wyrostek

Preparation

Running for me became a positive addiction, I call it positive because as I began running about six miles a day I began to change; physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  During the hour it took me to run each day I had time to contemplate life and all the things that come with it…it was truly a time to clear my head and get a good perspective on what it was all about.  I was stronger and didn’t have any of the health issues that many of my peers had and I used the time to memorize scripture by writing verses on 3X5 cards and carrying them with me.

Over the course of the next few years I participated in several races that gave me goals to work toward.  Most of them were 10K’s, nine were marathons and I set a goal to one day qualify for Boston.  That goal was more than I bargained for and rather out of my reach, because at the time the qualifying time for women was too beyond my pace range.

Twenty five years after my last attempt in 1985 my forty year old daughter called me with the news that she would be running in the Boston Marathon and I could watch her progress in the run by logging on to the site with her number.  I was in awe that she had even qualified, and envious that she was actually going to run it.  She did well and I was so proud of her and just a bit jealous at the same time. She called me and said, “You know mom, you could probably make it now because they have increased the qualifying time for women your age.” Her excitement was contagious and I knew somewhere I had a list with a goal that had never been scratched off.

Perhaps I should have gone to a therapist at that time to get advice on how to accept unfinished goals, move on and make new ones.  Hind sight is always 20/20 so they say.

Seasoned runners and experts in the field recommend sixteen weeks of preparation before going the distance of the 26.2 mile run. I had plenty of time so I printed out a schedule, began training, and paid the outlandish entry fee for Grandma’s Marathon to be held in Duluth, Minnesota.  My commitment was made.  Another quality about me that might suggest therapy (once a commitment is made there is no backing out).

The training went very well for me, I went to Texas and ran in the Race for the Cure with my oldest daughter and her family, I ran the 5K in 27 minutes, and placed first in my age group with second place trailing me by four minutes.  I ran a half marathon in under two hours and was feeling very confident about making the qualifying time for the Boston.  

There are some things in life that are impossible to explain and just when you think everything is going your way, the unexpected happens.  Six weeks prior to the marathon I was enjoying a training run when my right hamstring seized up causing enough searing pain to stop me dead just a quarter mile into it.  My mind was flooded with a number of possibilities and probabilities; first and foremost was, “what have I done?” that was followed by, “will it heal?”, and, “will it heal in time?”

The healing process was slow, I stopped running for three full weeks and concentrated my training on other exercises that I could do without pain to my right leg.  I knew I wasn’t fully recovered when I hit the road running again, but I donned a brace and was able to put in some short runs without too much discomfort.  I had three weeks to get ready and did not want to do serious damage to the leg so I made the decision that all prior serious training would have to suffice.  In reality it was better than I had ever trained for any of my previous marathons.  The question was, “would it be enough?”

I made the trip from Arkansas to Minnesota a week prior to the day of Grandma’s and went out with my daughter and a friend on Monday morning…one quarter mile into the run my hamstring threatened to tear apart so as not to cause injury I walked back to the house telling the others to go along without me.

For 5 days I doctored the leg and stayed off running all together.  An internal battle was going on; I didn’t want to forfeit my entry fee…which by the way was a whole lot more than it had been 25 years previously.  Several people in my inner circle were excited with me to finally reach my shelved goal and I was determined.  Plus I had spent all those hours training.

Just before the start of the run I walked across the parking lot and felt pain in my leg and considered the possibility of not starting.  It just wasn’t in me to quit before I started so I did what I could to warm up and prepare my mind for the challenge ahead.  I knew I would not be able to finish the run but since I was here and my daughter was also there to make the run and support me I would do my best and forget the rest.

That’s the back story to my topic the 26 lessons I learned running a marathon.  The lessons are not simply lessons of one run, they are life lessons on endurance, fortitude, stamina, and working through the mental challenges we face every day when life takes us on unexpected journeys.

Lesson numbers 1 – Decisions are never made in a vacuum. Only one person needs to know of an outlandish decision such as this and the word spreads like wild fire.  Several people had come along side to offer me support; people who loved and cared about me.  Then there were others watching out of curiosity, they were probably certain I had lost my mind in rekindling such a vision at my age.  I wasn’t sure if they were wishing me success or failure.  I Guess it depends on their age, if I failed it would be a good excuse for them to stay on the couch.  If I succeeded many would still stay in the comfort of their reclined position. However, a few would declare, “If she can do it so can I.” And there would be a dash to the store for running shoes.  Maybe I could get a number and capitalize with a commission.

I work with a fitness coach who had encouraged me through the training and the healing process, his last words to me were, “You’ve got this.  All you have to do is finish.” I tried to explain that my purpose for running this race was to qualify for Boston but he seemed unconcerned about whether I would make a qualifying time, finishing to him would be quite okay.  I knew he would be watching my progress on the internet and cheering me on.  All these people tuned into my life at the moment added pressure to my resolve. Sometimes I think it would be better if I just quietly met my crazy challenges and waited until they were over before I let anyone know.

We may think when we make a decisions it has no effect on anyone other than ourselves; I don’t think that is true.  I’ve heard that at any given season in our life there are at least forty people watching how we face different challenges. Our response is often the determining factor to the action they will follow. 

John Donne wrote in his poem For Whom the Bell Tolls, “No man is an island”.  In the poem he iterates how we are intricately connected to a far reaching band of people.  What we say and do will have an effect on someone else which in turn spreads out like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, the ripples circle outwardly in endless procession. It’s possibly for this reason we are instructed in the greatest book ever written to laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who weep. With this in mind, as you read through the rest of these lessons, feel my pain and enjoy my victories because they are equally yours.

Lesson number 2 – Races, like life are filled with difficult choices. The first three miles were almost over and I was doing fairly well, I had paced myself so I would have enough energy to complete the entire 26.2 miles.  But, right after I crossed the three mile marker my leg sent me a sharp reminder it was not healed.  I fully understood why the paramedic van was so close to the start of the race, and then I wondered if this would be a proper time to abort in case I had done some serious damage to the area causing me the pain.

I had anticipated this obstacle but until that moment I had not pondered the choice I would have to make so soon in the run. I vacillated between going for it and quitting over and over in my mind.  Finally I chose to at least finish the first half of the race.  I would simply have to run through the pain, surely I wasn’t going to die and eventually my leg would heal!

At least that’s what I told myself as I saw a runner much younger than I hobbling over to the paramedic station.  He was holding his right hamstring and fighting tears.  He obviously wasn’t going to finish the race, what in the world made it so important to me. Call it what you will, I just knew I needed to work harder before I gave up (my give up point would be half way).

Most face life with optimism until they’re confronted with difficulty.  It is important not to let anything stand in the way of accomplishing the purpose for which you engage you passion.  When difficulties cause pain, the tendency is to focus on the pain instead of what set you on this journey.  Pain or even the fear of pain, regardless of the source may halt the progress toward life’s highest potential.

In my favorite book it says that before our life was being fashioned by the creator our days were already written with a clearly designed destiny.  It’s found in Psalms 139 if you care to read it for yourself.  With this in mind, there is no guarantee that we will not experience troubles but the creator is also the healer and he fixes all of our messes when we turn our life over to him.

I intend one day to stand before my creator and hear him say the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

That accomplishment does not happen for anyone that hasn’t pressed through the challenges set before them. Not all challenges that produce halting pain are physical, for that matter some emotional pain can be more difficult to endure.  Regardless of the cause, to rise up from the bed of pain is a choice.