{"id":131,"date":"2012-08-09T15:03:23","date_gmt":"2012-08-09T15:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplymeandjeans.wordpress.com\/?p=131"},"modified":"2012-08-09T15:03:23","modified_gmt":"2012-08-09T15:03:23","slug":"as-a-runner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/?p=131","title":{"rendered":"RUNNING ENEMIES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As a runner, \u00a0I have four formidable enemies.<\/p>\n

A headwind kicks my butt. There are days I get dressed for a run only to walk outside, feel a breeze and turn around to head straight for the treadmill.<\/p>\n

Hills, although I’m more determined to conquer them, \u00a0also leave me wiped out.<\/p>\n

Heat is my\u00a0nemesis and that’s no small thing when you live in Texas.<\/p>\n

And early morning is my least favorite time of day to lace up my Brooks.<\/p>\n

Half way into my run this morning, \u00a0I realized I was facing all four minions at one time and I just about called someone to pick me up – until the song changed and I realized God was speaking. \u00a0He does that often when I’m working out. \u00a0I’ve never figured out if it’s because I’m exhausted and my defenses are down or if it’s because I’m focused and undistracted. \u00a0Regardless, I was done and he had something for me to learn.<\/p>\n

We’ve had this conversation many times through the years so I guess I shouldn’t have to be reminded but…ya know. \u00a0 This morning I was frustrated and wanted to push really hard and prove something to myself. \u00a0I wasn’t in the mood for a healthy and low stress walk or jog. This run was about conquering something that may have been more emotional than physical. \u00a0 Little did I know, I would be faced with conquering that as well as all four of my running enemies at one time. Honestly, I couldn’t do it. \u00a0I couldn’t conquer them quickly and I wasn’t sure I’d conquer them at all. \u00a0The truth is I just wanted to quit.<\/p>\n

Jesus knows me so well. \u00a0He knows how stubborn and impatient I am. \u00a0He knows how hard I am on myself. \u00a0He even knows how scared I can be even when I don’t realize it, but He has such a sweet way of giving me “pictures” that can explain more than words. \u00a0As I found myself gasping for air and about to quit, \u00a0it’s as if He said, ” Sometimes this is life.\u00a0 I know it seems like too much but just keep moving. \u00a0 We can take it slow. \u00a0We can take breaks. Just don’t quit. \u00a0Remember, I rule the wind and the sun. \u00a0I can make the hills into plains. \u00a0I can turn your mourning into dancing. \u00a0 Keep your eyes on me. \u00a0Look right at me….Sing right to me. \u00a0I’m your hope.”<\/p>\n

Funny thing is,\u00a0 I made it home. \u00a0It wasn’t my best time ever but it wasn’t my worst and I didn’t quit. \u00a0How little I think I can handle sometimes. \u00a0If I could only remember that God is on my side and that Jesus is walking with me I think I wouldn’t be so afraid of the pain, hills, wind, sun and exhaustion. \u00a0His love is amazing. \u00a0His strength is never ending. \u00a0His grace overwhelms me.<\/p>\n

I think I’ll follow him anywhere… it just may be at a slower pace on some days.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a runner, \u00a0I have four formidable enemies. A headwind kicks my butt. There are days I get dressed for a run only to walk outside, feel a breeze and turn around to head straight for the treadmill. Hills, although I’m more determined to conquer them, \u00a0also leave me wiped out. Heat is my\u00a0nemesis and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[182,208,260,262,305,476,477,478],"class_list":["post-131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","tag-faith","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-healthy","tag-jesus","tag-run","tag-runner","tag-running","post_format-post-format-aside"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenlawson.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}