Running.

In light of coming events, I thought it would be very appropriate to make the first of my soon to be many posts about running.

Now if you know me at all you know that running is not my favorite thing to do.  I grew up with a family of runners.  Almost every weekend was spent either attending a race someone was running in or actually running in a race myself.  I was apart of a running club growing up and I ran track/cross country all through middle school and high school.  Running was my thing.  My dad trained me a lot growing up and I ran with my brothers to get ready and help train for a cross country race or for a 5k on the weekends.  My dad would train me so hard because he saw what I didn't see (or feel, frankly) in my talent.  He would always tell me, "Elizabeth you've got so much potential in this sport if you would stick with it."  In that moment in time I didn't believe him.  I guess I just got burnt out.  I never really quit running, but I am slack in the discipline of training for races and events.  For example, I signed up to do a 5k on May 8.  Have I ran any?  Nope.  (I just slapped my hand).

I guess you could say that I've always been a "runner" but I am no where near what I could be if I "stuck with it" and had the discipline of training.  As I write this, it reminds me of my Christian life.  I have always been a "christian", but I am nowhere near the Christian I am called to be because of my lack of discipline of being in God's word.  Will God ever give up on me?  Nope.  He knows my potential so He's going to keep pushing me until I reach my potential in Him.  Just like my dad.  Even to this day my dad asks me about my running and invites me to run in certain races.  He offers to train me and run with me to help me reach my potential (that I still have).  I've come to know that your potential never leaves you...it's just hidden until you reach the level you are supposed to be at.  Everyone's got some kind of potential in them...and you've probably got the most potential in something you don't particularly love to do (at least that's how it is for me).  I've also found that when you train and are disciplined in the thing that you're pursuing (in my case, running) it becomes easier and more fun and you're more likely to do it because it becomes a habit (which is how I should be in my Christian walk). 

Whew.  I did not intend for this post to go in the direction it did...I guess that's just been on my heart lately.  On a more lighter note, I'll leave you with a few pictures of my glory days as a runner...hopefully I'll one day reach the potential that I've always had inside me, and Dad, thanks for pushing me and for seeing the potential in me.  You're the best!

This is me after I finished the Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon in 2004.

This is me coming up to the finish line.  I'm usually very focused and will have a pretty funny look on my face!