Training for the big race

I've been training all spring and summer preparing to run a half marathon. That's 13.1 miles for all you couch potatoes. There are a lot things to be learned from athletic training and some of them greatly illustrate the Christian life.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Paul was pressing for the finish line spiritually.

I want to list just a few ways that running a physical race is a lot like running the spiritual race.

1) I haven't trained anywhere near as diligently as I should have.

A person in training for a race of this length should train five or six days a week. Now, I'll be honest, I've only averaged about three days a week and sometimes only two times a week. Sometimes I'm just too tired physically to go out and run. Other times I want to run but there are just too many obligations to meet and not enough hours in the day. Still other times my body is not too tired and I have the time, but mentally I just can't get up the umph to go out and run four, five, or six miles.

What is the result of this lack of training? Quite obviously I'm going to be a hurting man on race day! My finish time won't be as fast as it could be, AND I'll be in much more pain than would have otherwise been necessary. Training matters.

I think the spiritual parallel here is clear. We know we should spend much time training our hearts and minds spiritually, but if we just go to church on Sunday's for an hour or two, that ain't much training for a big race. Daily training is necessary. A little bit nearly every day over a long period of time. If I pray and read my Bible and draw close to God every single day, I'll be prepared for the bigger races (test and trials) of life. If I only spend time with God two or three times a week, I'll not be as well prepared.

Just like I need to train physically nearly every day to be in optimal physical condition, I must train my heart and mind spiritually everyday!

2) Sometimes (OK a lot of times) I just want to quit!

About a week ago I went on a 13 mile training run with Martin and Johnny from church. While running up a long hill about ten miles into the run I said, "OK I don't want to be a runner any more. I don't want to run that dumb race in October. I don't even want to finish this one." I was just plain whupped. I wouldn't have felt nearly so whupped had I run one or two more times per week over the past two months, but it was too late for that. Since I was running with two other guys, I didn't stop, but pressed on. I pressed on through the pain, the agony, the suffering, the regrets.... And I finished that day without stopping to walk or quitting altogether.

There are many many times we want to quit in our Christian walk. Let's be honest, the Christian race can be tough at times. I believe it's the lack of spiritual training on a daily bases that is often the problem. We just aren't as prepared as we should be. But even with training, races are tough and so are trials. I had two guys running with me the last time I wanted to quit and they pushed me on. In the spiritual race we have the Spirit of God living in us as well as other believers around us. There have been times during long runs when I didn't quit but I did slow down and even walk. That was OK because I got the rest I needed and kept going. I didn't give up. We can't give up in our spiritual race either. Get some rest, train better, get some support from God through prayer and from other believers, but don't quit!

I'll post some pictures and a report after the race in about a week and a half.