He is Risen! Oops, I am not talking about our risen Savior who we will celebrate on Sunday. I am talking about me and the fact that after nearly three years of virtual sloth, I returned to the “racing” circuit today to limp (seriously) through my 51st half marathon. I took this old body out on the course accompanied by 11 extra pounds and a bad calf muscle and did my worse (vs. my best).
My training for this event was going OK, until March 28th, when I pulled a calf muscle in the middle of an eight mile training run. I was so lame, that I had to call my girlfriend to come pick me up. Yet, I thought this old body would repair itself soon enough to run gallantly within a week. Pride was on my side as I fell back on a rich history of having logged 50 half marathons. But my pride (i.e. an inflated sense of my accomplishment) caused me to step out on a course that I had no business being on. Enter stupidity.
Within just two miles of the start of the race, my right
calf began to burn. Granted, I have made some mistakes in my life, mostly in my
overestimation of my ability. But this time, my biggest mistake was underestimating my IGNORANCE (i.e. stupidity). I was going to have to complete the
next 11 miles limping like Festus in the old Gunsmoke series. I had a fantastic
dream that I would be healed and prepared for the race but, at mile marker two,
I had to settle for REALITY!
My pride certainly helped me imagine the runner I wanted to be today, but reality forced me to ACCEPT the runner I was at this point in time.
There is a proverb that states “Pride comes before the fall.”
Although number 51 is in the books, it is apparent to me I may be paying for my
inflated attitude for some time. Number
52 may be further away than I realize. Blessings from your often ignorant (and now healing) friend and colleague in life.
