Life is a Marathon

''It's not a sprint, It's a Marathon"

Most of you who have had the privilege of childbirth have most likely heard the above statement.
It wasn't until my Sunday long run, that I truly understood the depth of that saying. 

Birth was LONG. It is physical but it is very mental.  The anxious beginning, enduring pain hour after hour wondering when it will end. And finally. The end. Just when you give up. Just when you think you can not go on another minute it is over.  Then comes the flood of emotion. The TEARS. The tears of joy, but mostly tears of relief that it is over.

I'm not exaggerating. This is how I felt on Sunday.  I ran for 3.5hrs . I ran until I truly and deeply to the core of my soul thought I could not go on. I quit. I walked for about 5 minutes 3 kms from the end until I realized  I had no choice but to keep going. I don't know how I did it but I  mustered enough strength deep within the pit of my stomach to run again.

When I finished I cried. I seriously cried. They were tears of accomplishment but MOSTLY tears of relief that it was over.

Good God this training is difficult. It is taking everything I have.  It is taking my years of training and experience and putting it to the test. I feel that I am being tested mentally more than anything.

After giving birth to my second child, after spinal surgery and without pain medication, I felt like I could accomplish anything.  Just like that, I feel that when I cross that finish line in May I will prove to myself that anything is possible if I just believe.  After that there will be no excuses for not being able to do something. 

All I need to do is believe and put one foot in front of another. I believe that God is preparing my heart and mind for something BIG. Something that will take even more inner strength and trust in the unnatural.  I believe that after May I will be ready to take on whatever He has for me.

I can do this. By God's strength one step at a time I will do this.  How I'm not sure...but I will.
Just like in birth. Just like in running. LIFE is a Marathon.....and I'm in training for it.