Welcome to Elle Girls Run!

I am Gabrielle, the redheaded half of this runner/ blogger/ Jesus-follower duo.

There was a time when I considered myself a runner. I though that running a mile around a track a couple times a week qualified me to be counted among that dedicated group of people known as runners. I had no clue. I had no desire to race. I had never heard of BodyGlide, much less needed it. I thought “PR” had to do with public relations and “fartlek” was a cuss word in German. I thought I was a runner, but I didn’t have a clue what that word meant.

A runner is an athlete, an artist, and an adrenaline junky feared by pavement, trails, and tracks worldwide. It is not the muscle mass, endurance level, or training that makes a runner; it is the spirit. The spirit of determination that refuses to quit and fire inside that just has to see what the next mile brings. For runners, there is no such thing as too early, too cold, or too far. Pain is a welcomed sign of the body being pushed to its limits. A runner is an ordinary person who chooses each day to lay it all on the line and become extraordinary. They know that every run, every workout, every finish line, has the potential to lift spirits to new highs or devastate, yet they line up anyway. A runner is someone who beats their body into shape to win a greater prize. And the pain is worth it.

There is another group of dedicated people out there, they follow Christ.

Christ-followers are ordinary people who have come to the point in their lives where they no longer fake it. No longer are they satisfied to drift along in the average. They seek out the amazing. They refuse to meander in half-hearted religion, accepting nothing but the miraculous. They no longer wander in the wilderness of personal satisfaction. They accept nothing less than total sacrifice. Christ-followers do not settle for merely functional or competent Christianity. They have a soul-burning, heart-stopping, world-changing, love relationship with the God of all creation. They are done being mediocre. They chase after a life so Christ-like that when others imitate they, they become like the Lord. This is Christianity: real, bold, Christ-like, forever. "Jesus replied, "Not one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God."

Maybe you call yourself a Christian, but your life doesn’t line up with the above definition.

Maybe you know with absolute certainty that you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

All it took for me to become a runner was to make the decision to run and live out that decision each day by running. Mile after mile….some people call it torture, but I love it. Some people call Christianity restrictive, but it is my purpose for living. All it takes for you to be counted among those who know Christ is to make the decision to believe in Him and live out that decision each day.

Who He is:
“How can we know the way? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen Him." John 14:5-7

What He did:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to sasve the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:16-21

What He has done for you:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Results of a relationship with Him:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35, 37-39

How to believe in Him:
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trust in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

It's that easy, and that hard. All it takes for you to be counted among those who know Christ is to make the decision to believe in Him and live out that decision each day.

Questions?
Email Michelle and Gabrielle.

Are You a Runner?

A RUNNER names his runs. Tempo, threshold, and fartlek runs. Long runs, slow runs, and track workouts. The runs are defined.

A CHRISt-FOLLOWER reads Scripture, prays, and fellowships with a purpose. Nothing in the Christian life is unintentional. Just like specific runs, each moment with God has a purpose. Each word, prayer, and answer intentionally brings the follower closer to Christ.

A RUNNER knows that shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe is the one that makes a better runner.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER chooses his church based on Scriptural preaching, conviction of sin, challenging message, and strength of fellowship…no because of social standing, convenience, or because all the hot girls go there. Church is about drawing closer to Jesus not climbing the social latter.

A RUNNER doesn’t have running outfits. He has technical shirts and shorts and socks. He has apparel that enhances the experience of running by facilitating comfort, speed, and sweat-drying. Runners use words like "Coolmax," "Gore-Tex," “Dry-fit,” and actually know which does what.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER knows that Spiritual warfare is no laughing matter and putting on the armor of God each day is vital to survival. It is not about looking spiritual or appearing to be the perfect Christian, it is about choosing to wear the character of Christ as protection against the daily fight again sin.

A RUNNER knows what effort feels like, and embraces it. He knows when limits are reached and why he pushes through them. He knows that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate—once avoided because of discomfort--are necessary to become a better runner.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER knows that imitating a perfect and Holy Savior is the hardest thing he will ever attempt, and can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Following Jesus Christ requires commitment, dedication, a change in priorities, and an abandonment of self. But every forced quiet time and uncomfortable confession of sin is worth it because it draws man closer to God.

A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER gives it all for the cause of Christ. Daily taking up the cross and following Jesus. Putting earthly desires, and even earthly life, on the line because He is worth it. His will is not only greater, it is best. And a follower will stop at nothing to be in the will of Christ.

A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER knows that, this side of heaven, he will never arrive at perfect unity and holiness. But that is part of the challenge, part of the draw; knowing that there is always something to work toward, and that the biggest prize of all is waiting to be celebrated in heaven.

A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER is not perfect, sinless, or even nice all the time. Some call Christians hypocrites, but they are merely ordinary humans who choose to follow Christ with their lives. They are not super spiritual. Christ-followers sin…every day. But with the power of the Holy Spirit they sin less each day as they draw closer to the Lord. The difference between an ordinary person and a Christ-follower is that the latter has the power not to sin, while the former has no choice but to sin.

A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

A CHRIST-FOLLOWER is a Christian not because of an excessive amount of good deeds, or a respectable past, or pure thought life. A follower is saved because Christ died for Him on the cross of Calvary, dying once for the guilt of all sin. The follower merely accepted that free gift of Salvation and eternal life.

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

Are you a Christ-follower?

Excerpts taken from Runner's World.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-332--12126-0,00.html

Prayer Running, Part 2

This photo sum up anyone else's life besides mine? How many days do you feel like you're at work, trying to get something done, when someone in your family calls? Normally, you wouldn't take a personal call in the office, but you figure since you're working through lunch to finish your task, it's permissible. As if that's not enough, your legs are cramping from sitting at that desk all morning, and you just feel the need to do some bicep curls. (Personally, I usually go for jumping jacks.)

Life calls for multitasking. I look for opportunities to do more than one thing at a time. For example, when I get home from the gym in the morning, I brew the coffee while I am in the shower. Then, I fix breakfast for James and I so my hair can air dry a little and it doesn't take as long with the hairdryer. Then, I do my makeup while the straightener heats up, etc. I think he's used to it now, but when we first got married, James was just so frustrated with my routine. "Can't you just do one thing at a time?" I looked at him like he had three heads.

But that wasn't the first time I heard that question. I first discovered praying while running during my senior year of high school. Running seemed like one of the only times of my day when I was truly focused on one task. At this time in my life, I was also very frustrated with my prayer relationship with God. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say. (That's never a problem for me. I've been told I could make a brick wall talk back.) But everytime I would try and pray, my sister would come in my room, or my cell phone would ring. There was always a distraction. That's when I had the bright idea, "No one can interrupt me if they can't catch me!" So I started praying on my morning run.

For the first time, my prayer life soared. I talked to God without distractions. I made a new discovery when I started marathon training. After about 6 miles, I can't carry on a conversation anymore. I was forced to listen to God. I promise He'll speak if you give Him a chance to get a word in!

I was on track for about a year...and then, I got an iPod for Christmas. So excited to finally have the latest running toy, I couldn't wait to try it out on my next run. And I began ignoring God.

I didn't stop praying. But once I again, I would get distracted. How effective can a prayer really be when it consists of, "God, please bless Jeff and Staci as they minister to Your people in Botswana...ooohhh I love this song! ::Singing:: What will people say when they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak? What will people do when they find out it's true?:: Oh, man, what was I saying? Oh yeah, help me to be a strong witness to Jerred in my math class."

I didn't notice a change in my running. My pace stayed the same, my endurance didn't change. The beat of the music didn't propel my legs faster at all! I did notice a difference somewhere else - my relationship with God. I had gone back to a popcorn prayer mentailty. When something in life popped up that I needed, I prayed. Other than that, we were casual aquaintences when I would show up to His house on Sundays and mid-week bible study.

That summer, I stepped outside to run, but it was too hot. I decided it was a treadmill day. So I headed to the gym. But when I opened my gym bag, I was horrified to discover...my precious iPod was on the charger at home.

Don't panic, I told myself. You can do this. You ran forever without one. Just pray. No big deal.

You know those friends that it doesn't matter how long it's been since you've seen then, but everytime you talk, it's like you never left each other? That's how my prayer run went that day. I talked to God through seven miles (I got the extra one in...I had too much to say!) When I finally stopped to listen, I was overwhelmed with the thought of, "I've missed you."

Here's what's really beautiful. It wasn't just me who missed God. GOD MISSED ME. Me - a somewhat annoying little blonde with a squeaky voice that doesn't come with a "Mute button!

Scripture tells us that our God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-6, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 6:15). He doesn't take it well when we are not spending time with Him, not talking to Him, and not taking time to listen.

This is a challenge for you to figure out what works best for you. Maybe God fills you with words to say to Him when you listen to praise music as you run like Gabrielle. Or maybe you are a little to ADHD like me, and you need to limit your multi-tasking when it comes to your relationship with God.

Whatever works for you, give God the dedication and undivided attention He deserves. On your mark, get set, GO!

Prayer Running, Part 1

6:30am. I park at the trails and double check my double-knotted Asics. The sun is just peeking over the horizon, casting an orange glow over the path. I love my morning route: a winding river-side trail that goes on for endless miles. I always start my run heading east toward downtown, it makes sense to run into the sun before it gets to hot, then have the sun at your back for the last bit of mileage. But if I had to be honest, the sun has nothing to do with why I run east….in the early mornings the sun shines through the high rise buildings causing light to glint off of the chrome skyscrapers that frame downtown. Sunrise and skyscrapers combine in a prismic effect that adds some serious magic to my run. And I am all about having as many distractions as possible to keep my mind off blisters or sore muscles.

6:35am. I usually warm up with a five minute jog, which also allows me to recalibrate my Nike chip to get an accurate reading on today’s run. I am in serious LOVE with my Nike iPod chip. It tracks my pace, mileage, and time. Once my calibration is set, I hit play and run toward the sunlight. David Crowder pounds through my headphones: Here is our King, Our Love is Loud, Wholly Yours, God of Creation, Undignified, All This for a King,The Glory of it All. And suddenly, I am alone. Gone is the background noise of traffic, the squawking of birds hoping to be fed, the whiz of cyclist passing to my left. Even the pounding of my own feet has disappeared. It’s just me and Jesus.

Running is my time with God. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t take the place of reading scripture, memorizing the Word, or going to church. But running is when Jesus and I talk. The iPod effectively blocks out the world (don’t worry Dad, I stay alert to would-be predators). Sometimes I start out the run with a specific burden on my heart. Sometimes I picture my church and pray for every face. Sometimes I pray for my family. Running is my time of intercessory prayer. I have tried to be a “good Christian” and do all my prayer stuff during my quiet time, but I find myself distracted by random noises, by the phone ringing, by the to-do list taunting me from the kitchen table. I can’t focus for long periods of time….unless I am running. When I first begin to run, it was serious work. It hurt so much, I was so out of shape – I was desperate for anything that would get my mind off of the pain of beating my body into shape. So I begin to pray. Soon I found that I would get so focused on praying that an hour would fly by without me realizing it. And I was able to really invest in my church, my family, my friends marriages, and in lost souls by praying for them.

Running and Jesus became so intertwined that I looked forward to running (no matter how many miles were on the schedule for that day) because I got to run with Jesus. And I loved praying because it improved both my spirit and my body through running. It was totally win/win. I was excited when people asked me to pray with them because I could tell them with absolute certainty that I would pray that night during my 10k run, or the next morning during my sprint workout.

7:15am. My runs aren’t just time for me to talk with God; they also provided the perfect platform for me to listen to Him. In case you haven’t figured it out, I am quite the talker. And that transfers into my prayer life as well. I generally talk to God way more than I listen to Him. Which is completely backwards, since He kind of knows everything about, well, everything! But somewhere around mile five, my brain shuts down. The first two miles are always torture, no matter how in shape I am, so that is when my prayers are the most focused. By mile five I am in the zone; I am in rhythm and have settled into my stride. Running isn’t effortless, but it is no longer excruciatingly hard work. My brain no long needs to force my legs to move, they do it on their own. So my brain shuts down, which means that whoever I was praying for when I hit the shut-down point gets prayed for over…and over…and over… or I stop praying. And when I am finally quiet, God begins to speak. He convicts me of sin, He brings Scripture to mind and teaches me about it, He challenges, inspires, convicts, and encourages me. He teaches me what to pray and how to pray. Mileage after the five mile marker is the sweetest, most inspiring time I have with my Lord and Savior. Eight out of ten blogs that I write come from times running with Jesus. Book ideas, Bible study insights, and revelation of His nature come in those final miles. Makes me want to run distance every day just so I can meet Jesus. Not that I cannot experience the same thing at other times of the day, the only thing stopping me is my own lack of discipline to focus on Jesus alone. What works for me is combining the discipline of running with the discipline of prayer (both talking and listening).

I run with an iPod. And not just because of my obsession with the Nike chip. I run with music to prevent myself from being distracted. Especially when I know God has something to tell me that I don’t want to hear, or a sin to convict me of, or He wants to call me to greater holiness. If I can distract myself from hearing something I don’t want to hear from God, I will. So I eliminate distractions with my iPod. I only run to worship music. And I don’t like most Christian artists, so it is pretty much me, David Crowder, and Jesus. The worship songs keep me focused on Jesus. Anytime my thoughts start to wander or I try to ignore what God is saying, David Crowder says something like “Take my heart, I Lay it down, At the feet of you whose crowned, Take my life, I’m letting go, I lift it up to You who’s throned. And I will worship You, Lord. Only You, Lord” and I am back on track, listening to God.

8:30am. I have run the day's race and met my Lord. Running is no longer just about making the day’s mileage, it is about running to meet Jesus and get my heart in line with His.

“Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?....Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude to the things about which we pray.” --Oswald Chambers

Prayer running: using the discipline of running to inspire the discipline of prayer.

Rest Doesn't Mean Retirement

We admit it. Summers are crazy. You take a week to go on vacation, but that doesn't stop the work - it just means you have to get it done before you leave! (And you still return to new stacks of papers on your desk!) Plus, there's that whole "what happens on vacation, stays on vacation" philosophy of eating whatever you want and as much as you want. "Hey, I'm on vacation." (You know you've said it at some point!) Plus, there are 4th of July parties, backyard barbeque's, ice cream runs on extra hot days...you get the picture. Family comes to visit while things are "slowing down," and it seems like there's a wedding (or wedding shower) every weekend. And did we mention the heat? It just seems to make us extra tired, so that motivation we need to go out there and run is zapped by three digit temperatures. And heaven forbid you and your training partner don't go on vacation during the same week. You have to hit the gym by yourself for a whole week? We get it. It's not easy being a runner in the summer.

Gsbrielle is right. Rest is important. But did you notice that she didn't say it was okay to rest every day? :) Many runners allow themselves to be overwhelmed by their busy schedules and the heat, and they stop their regular training routine. Coming back after vacation is just too hard. That first day back in the gym after a week off feels like you've never worked out in your life.

Here's the bottom line: When exercise ends, de-training begins. But will you let that discourage you, or will you let it motivate you to be stronger?

It's true. Runner's World magazine reports:
* After just seven days of not training, blood volume drops sharply, which affects your body's ability to be able to function aerobically.
* With just three to six weeks of inactivity, your fitness can drop to PRE-TRAINING levels. All of your hard work was wasted.

Here are three great ideas to back off on your training during the summer without sacrificing any of your athletic ability. (And hey, if you can keep up your normal routine, DO IT! You rock.)

1) Maintain at least 50% of your mileage.
If you normally get in 30 miles for week, don't leave the gym on Saturday night until you've gotten at least 15 miles logged for the week. Try to run at least 3 days per week, skipping days inbetween - that's just 5 miles on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Much more manageable!

2) Mix in some speedwork.
Since you're running less, pick up the pace a notch. This will work your VO2 max and challenge your body in a different way. Adding speed burns more calories. If you work hard enough, you might actually work off just as many calories as you would doing a longer run.

3) Schedule yourself for two races early in the Fall.
Racing season is right around the corner. Go ahead and hit up www.active.com to schedule your first two races. Having something on the calendar to work towards will serve as constant motivation...plus, you'll get the early bird discount!

Usually, I try and give an equivalent parallel of running and your spiritual walk. That's not the case today. Backing off in your relationship with Christ is not an option. You have to stay consistent in your walk with Christ. Just as you are in your best shape physically on race day after strict training and exercise, you are in your best shape spiritually when you are spending consistent time each day in God's Word and prayer.

Gabrielle mentioned in her last post how empowered she felt after completing a hard week of training without compromise in any area. That's similar to the "spiritual high" we experience after a mission trip or incredible Christian conference. Minus the hours we spend sleeping, these trips are all about the Lord - serving Him, worshipping Him, learning about Him, telling others about Him, etc. We spend all of our time with him, resulting in a closeness with God that is unmatchable to any other relationship.

But what happens when we return home? We fall back into our normal routines. Instead of God's agenda being the top priority of our day, he takes second, third, maybe even ninth or tenth place.

I am not asking you to quit your job, sell your house, and preach on the streets downtown fifteen hours a day. (It's God's job to ask people to do that.) But do you have consistent time with Christ? Are you contintually spending time with Him so you don't lose your passion?

1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever says he lives in Christ must walk as Jesus did." It doesn't add the phrases unless you are on vacation, unless you are tired, or whenever you feel like it. You must walk as Jesus did PERIOD. At all times. No matter what storms in life pops up, no matter how high the hill is to climb, no matter if you feel like you are the only one still walking.

Over the next few posts, Gab and I are going to share some of the ways that we find God...while running. :)

A time to run… and a time to rest.

I had a perfect training week. I not only met my training goals each day, I added in new cross training exercises. I feel so empowered right now….I want to go out and run fifteen miles. Don’t know how well that would turn out, but I want to do try. Living up to my goals one day motivates me to beat them the next. Having a great week of training is an invitation to do better. And right now, my body is dying to head out for a strenuous run. But the training schedule is blank for today. Blank! As in Nothing-To-Do. No goal to meet. REST.
Sometimes I love that word, like the morning after an endurance event when I can hardly drag my aching body out of bed. But most of the time rest seems like a bad word for runners. Today, I absolutely ABHOR the idea of rest. I don’t want to rest, I want to run! I feel superhuman and want to prove it by pushing my body to go just a little bit farther. But I am not superhuman. Neither are you. We are, in fact, very human. Runners are more aware of their humanity than most people in life. We feel the aches, pains, broken bones, stress, and power of the human body. We experience the phenomenal strength that God created in our physical bodies, but we also feel our own frailty. I am human and my body needs rest.

After running 3:34 in the 2000 Chicago Marathon, Mike Crooks set his sights on qualifying for Boston. Crooks needed to take 19 minutes off his time. He ramped up his training by adding speedwork, hill repeats, long runs at a faster clip, and sometimes skipping rest days. Yet each year his marathon pace got slower. After running a disappointing 4:01 in Chicago, Crooks hired a personal trainer, hoping he would unlock the secret behind his sputtering performances. The diagnosis? Inadequate recovery.
– Runner’s World Magazine, 2003.

Recovery is a vital, but often overlooked- part of training for a runner.

Runners are a little bit psycho. They have to be; with all the getting up early and running mile after mile in 95degree heat or sub-zero weather. Utterly crazy. And totally fabulous. But, even though I get it, I even do it – I must admit that runners are a little out of their minds. It is a sport for the overly intense, disgustingly disciplined, self-driven, mileage freaks. The thing about a runner’s adrenaline-induced insanity is that it overrides feelings of pain, physical limits, and most rational thought. That insanity is what enables a 2:04:26 marathon time (by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, 2007). Personally, I am proud to be counted among the adrenaline-induced insane. But that doesn’t give me super-human strength.

To be honest, I view rest as weakness. If I need a full day of lazing around to recover from a half-marathon then I must not have trained well enough. If I am too sore to walk after an intense hill workout, then I need to do it again and again until it gets easy….or I at least get un-sore. Rest is for the lazy, the weak, those who aren’t driven, focused, or strong enough to push through the exhaustion.

But that is a lie.
We push beyond limits, but then we must let our body catch up.
It is in rest that we gain strength.

Adrenaline-induced insane runners strongly resemble over-worked, faithful-to-a-fault Christians. Church goers come in all varieties, but the ones who are involved are INVOLVED, if you know what I mean. Statistics show that 20% of church members provide 80% of church tithes. That same 20% staffs the church nursery, teaches the Sunday school classes, attends visitation, leads VBS, and makes up Sunday and Wednesday night services. The point: those who are committed to church are all-in, no-day-off-limits for service, willing to pray, teach, or feed the hungry at a moments notice. They are the runners of the church. They are wholly committed to serving their Lord.

Most runners run 6 days/week. Yeah, and most runners are overtrained and chronically injured.

Most committed Christians are at the church every time the doors are open, and yes – most Christians are exhausted from church.

God invented rest for a reason.
Genesis 2:1-3 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

Exodus 20: 9-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

Hebrews 4:9-12 “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Rest is injury prevention, both physically and spiritually.

-"It's when you're not running that the muscle rebuilds itself and becomes stronger," says Bryan Heiderscheit, Ph.D., P.T., who heads the University of Wisconsin Medical School's Runner's Clinic. Running tears down the muscle, while rest allows it to rebuild bigger. Going, doing, ministering, is vital to the Christian, but without rest in the Lord it doesn’t build a relationship, it just builds a busy schedule.

-"When we aren't running, we're doing everything we can to recover," says Bob Kennedy, a two-time Olympian. When you aren’t busy pouring out, allow Jesus to fill you up so that you do not run dry.

-“If you don't eat within 15 to 30 minutes after every run, you risk delaying your recovery for up to 24 hours, which leads to diminished performance,” says Leslie J. Bonci, R.D., of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Never be to busy serving to feed on the Word of God.

-"Don't wait for aches or pains to take a recovery day," Heiderscheit says. "That's a sign of overtraining." Don’t wait until you are so busy you can’t remember the last time you heard God’s voice, stop now and rest in him.

-"If recovery is insufficient, you'll break down more than you build up." – Runner’s World, injury prevention. If you don’t obey God’s command to rest, you will have a greater witness as a nervous wreck than as a follower of Christ.

When you stress your body, you let it heal and come back stronger. I think of performance as a function of two components: (1) Training and (2) Recovery. Training stresses your body in order to stimulate the adaptations that will enable you to perform longer and faster; however, it's the recovery time (i.e. sleep and rest) that enables the adaptation to take place. If you take away the "healing" part (ie. rest), you just keep stressing your body and just get more and more tired. You may get fit, but you won't be healthy.

It is in rest that we gain strength.

One day in seven my only goal is to rest. Just be with Jesus. Without all of the trappings of Christianity, the responsibilities of church, and the pressures of living in a sin-filled world. Just get alone with Jesus and BE with Him.

Sunday’s are my rest day, both physically and spiritually. Sunday won’t work for everyone, particularly if you are in the ministry. All my church duties are mid-week, so Sunday is perfect for me and Jesus. I “rest” from church duties, I rest from my normal routine quiet time, I rest by soaking in the preaching of God’s word, meditating on it throughout the day, and just spending time with my Jesus. Whether it is a walk outside to praise God for the creativity of His creation or an hour of journaling about all He has done that week. I take a break from normal business and reflect on my Lord, my relationship with Him, and how He has worked in my life this past week. There are times I feel guilty for resting, but I have learned that it is in those quite times of rest that I build the strength to serve and give and go to all the nations.

It is in rest that we gain strength.

Runner vs. Jogger

I used to claim that I was a runner….back before I actually ran. In those days, running meant owning a pair of tennis shoes and running when it was convenient or when I had eaten too much Ben&Jerrys. And I only ran until I got tired, whether that be one mile or three. I gave no thought to pacing or speed. It didn’t matter; I was only running on a whim – not because it was a determining factor in my daily routine. I was a jogger.

George Sheehan, running guru, once said that “The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.” A runner is serious enough about the sport to compete in it. Simply put, that is the dividing line between runner and jogger. But that entry blank signifies so much more. The entry blank symbolizes commitment to train, dedication to finish the race, and a promise to run with a purpose.

THE JOGGER runs for…
Entertainment: I know, I know – who runs for entertainment? I used to. Not that I found anything amusing about dripping with sweat, but the other people at the track were entertaining. Watching large people run is funny (Forgive me, please, I was very immature). And there are always muscly men working out nearby. Entertainment, distraction from whatever normally occupies the mind.

Recreation: It’s something to do with people you love. And if those you love run, then it is a way to be with friends, family, or your current love. I took up running while in the “talking” phase of a relationship with a baseball player. He had to run three miles a day as part of practice, and he asked me to run with him. Sure, I burned a few calories and spent time with a cute athlete, but it was purely recreational.

Social Status: Not the high society kind of status, but the status as an athlete. In America, the physical is worshiped, whether it be beauty, fitness, or health. It is only natural that people would jog in order to have the reputation as someone who cares about their body. To join the ranks of the physically fit. To be known as something other than a couch potato.

Personal Gain: Quite a few people jog for exercise. They want to loose a few pounds, shape up, or build muscle. What separates these joggers from marathoners who finish in five hours is the amount of effort put into it. One blogger put it like this, "If you run 4 1/2 hours--but barring injury or illness you could have run it in 3 1/2 hours--then you are jogging. If you run 4 1/2 hours and you know that you could not possibly have run any harder or faster - then you are running." It is all about the amount of heart and effort put into running.

THE RUNNER runs for...
Runners allow nothing to distract them from their run. Nothing gets in the way of training. They have a goal, a future race, and nothing deters them from it. A runner gives all, refusing to look back, focusing on the goal, pushing past pain and distraction toward the prize. Now that I run, is a huge determining factor in my life. Running effects who I am and what I do. I can’t just make plans for the evening, I have to first consult my training schedule to see if I can cover the assigned mileage earlier in the day. My budget is affected by running; I have to plan in race fees, running clothes, and tennis shoes every three hundred miles. My grocery list has changed: I don’t look at calories or fat anymore, but count grams of protein and carbohydrates to make sure my body is adequately fueled. My shopping habits have changed, a pick-me-up used to be a new pair of high heels, but just yesterday I picked up a new Sapphire/black running outfit and ran my fastest mileage to date (talk about a pick-me-up!). Running isn’t the only thing I do; I take kickboxing and Pilates, and I strength train. But I do those other activities to enhance my performance as a runner. Strong muscles protect bones and increase speed. I read about running. I write about running. It’s all about running.

Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are a runner, not a jogger. Joggers don’t read about running. Runners, on the other hand, are obsessed with it. Runners are dedicated, driven, and focused individuals. But let me ask you this, fellow runner –

In your walk with Christ, are you a runner or a jogger?

Is your walk with the Lord dedicated, driven, and focused on His Kingdom? Or are you a Christian for what you can get out of it? Are you a jogging after Christianity or running hard after Jesus?

THE JOGGER CHRISTIAN lives for...
Entertainment: Do you go to church for the entertainment value? Granted, churches today are so spectacular that it is easy to watch the show rather than worshiping Jesus, but that is no excuse. To you go for the music, drama, stories, and feel-good sensation? Are you seeking for someone to entertain you rather than you serving SOMEONE?

Recreation: Recreational activities are take-‘em-or-leave-‘em by design, with no commitment attached. Just go, have fun, enjoy, relax. Don’t get over-involved or serious about the topics. Recreational Christians don’t feel the need to join a church, serve the Body of Christ, or expend energy to pursue Jesus in all areas of life. Their Christianity is just for fun.

Social Status: There is a huge contingent of pew-sitters that are their solely to be seen. It is especially commonplace in the Deep South. It is the place for politicians to been seen as moral individuals, for business people to make connections, and women to pick out appropriate husbands for their daughters.

Personal Gain: Can be any number of reasons, to earn your salvation, to appease your conscience for some sin, to make a Jesus-freak (who you are most likely related to) happy. Coming to church maybe about meeting nice girls or getting your weekly spiritual fix. The difference is in the motive for coming.

THE RUNNER CHRISTIAN lives for...
Christ-followers make every effort to allow nothing to get between them and their Lord. They run for Him, to Him, and because of Him. Nothing is important enough to get in the way of praying, reading the Word, and investing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ-followers know that they are here on earth for a reason, they know their purpose, they have embraced their calling, and are pursuing it with all their might. They push past busy days, refusing to be distracted by petty church-y-ness, and run toward the prize. Paul was an excellent example, he said “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

When I am truly living my life for the Lord, seeking Him with all of my energy; it changes who I am and what I do. It changes who I hang out with (either Christians who build me up or those in need of Jesus), what I do, why I do it, and the attitude I have while doing it. God affects my budget, no longer is that money there to please me, but to benefit the Kingdom. That involves tithing, yes; but also giving to those in need, buying a happy for a friend who is sad, sending a card just to let someone know you are praying. When God comes first, all other priorities take backseat. Jesus isn’t the only thing I do; I work, write, shop, run, read, and build a life with people. But I do those other activities to enhance my walk with the Lord. They give me opportunities to live out my faith. I do everything in my life to achieve the goal of knowing my Lord better.

If you are not running after Jesus every day of the week, then you are a jogger, not a runner. You cannot be a runner without consistent, dedicated running. You cannot truly follow Jesus without consistent dedication to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Running can be slow or fast, but it is different from jogging in that when you are finished, you cannot take another step. Live every day for Jesus being utterly spent at the end of each day.

Be a runner, in all areas of life.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Someone to Run With...

I ran the America Heroes 10k this past Memorial Day. It was the Monday after an out-of-town wedding where I feasted on wedding cake and tiny little appetizers nonstop for three days. To make matters worse, I stepped off the plane and went to a church picnic….with homemade chocolate cupcakes.
So, I was over-stuffed and under-trained when I stepped up to the starting line.

The race itself was fun: in honor of the military we started the race with an Apache Helicopter escort. Talk about adrenaline rush – there is nothing like racing a combat helicopter to the finish line!

I started off the race by myself, but ran into a training buddy in the first half mile. I’ve never run with her before, because we have different strides – but the wedding cake was slowing me down. We matched strides and the race really begin.

I like having someone to run with. It helps me pace myself. And for some reason, I unconsciously try to impress and maybe even beat the other runner. What can I say, I am a psychotic competitive freak! Running with a partner pushes, inspires, and challenges.

I was hurting from my undisciplined weekend, it was 97degrees, the water stations were manned by over-zealous teens who put ice in the water…which meant I had nothing to drink in four miles….and I am an every-mile-drinker kind of girl. It was ugly, that is the only way to describe my run.

But my friend kept me strong and steady. Actually, I think my stubborn Irish side simply refused to be beaten. Whatever the reason, we kept an easy (or what was supposed to be easy) ten-minute-mile pace for four and a half miles. Then her old ankle injury started acting up, she needed to slow down and I was ready to speed up for a different finish.

Hey, I may have run ugly, but I could still finish well!

So I took off at mile five, but soon begin slowing down – I didn’t have anyone to push me. I needed running accountability so that I could finish strong and fast! In desperation, I begin to pick specific runners ahead of me and pass them, then pick another one and pass them, and so on. It kept me focused. I passed Bib Number 5443. Within a minute he had passed me. Another minute and I passed him again. He was shorter than me, but far more muscular, so we were pretty evenly matched. I was wishing for a running partner when, just then 5443 passed me again and it hit me – this was my running partner for the remainder of the race.

We never ran side by side, but passing each other became our focus. It distracted me from the ever-enlarging blister on my right foot. We rounded the final corner for the last 100 meters; 5443 was a good twenty feet in front of me. My stubborn Irish rage took over and I decided there was no way he would beat me. Let me just say thank you to my Mom for long leg genetics, cause they sure came in handy for that final sprint! I flew past my challenger and crossed the finish line ten seconds before him. It was fabulous – a true racing high!

I was getting my race chip removed when he ran up and complimented my finish. I smiled and thanked him, because if he hadn’t pushed me I wouldn’t have finished like I did. He thought I was just a great finisher, but I knew he had pushed me to that fast finish.

In my car on the way home from the race I couldn’t stop thinking about that finish and how instrumental 5443 was in my finishing well. He was the running-version of a spiritual accountability partner. I had been blessed with amazing accountability partners over the years. Girls who pushed me to have a daily time with God, who called me out when I sinned, who helped me develop Godliness. Without their encouragement, support, and pushiness – I would not have the walk with God that I do today.

Imagine if you were the only entrant in a Marathon. With no one to race against, would you finish? Would you keep pace and push yourself mile after mile. With no one to pace you, would you tire out too fast? With no one racing up the hills in front of you, would you slow down at each incline? With no one to push you, encourage you, distract you….how would you race? An accountability partner is as vital to your walk with God as having other race participants is to your finishing well.

Runners are picky about who they run with: they look for someone with a similar pace, who has like training goals, and who they enjoy talking with mile after mile. They also look for someone determined to finish, who is committed to run. No one is interested in the runner partner who can’t drag his body out of bed to meet up for the scheduled early morning run.

In my experience, the best way to find a running or race partner is to run. And when I am running, then I look around me and see who was running like I needed to be. That person is my partner.

Seek an accountability partner the same way.

Run after God, seek His face. And while you seek him, look around at other Christians doing the same goals. You just met your accountability partner.

How to do it?
I have never been to Promise Keepers, because I am a girl. But I have heard that they have a song about accountability. It seems kind of cheesy as a song – but the lyrics define accountability to perfection.

· "Face to face. . ." Being accountable to someone means you sit face to face, look that person in the eye and honestly, openly discuss what is going on in your lives.
· "Shoulder to Shoulder. . ." Accountability means standing by your brother's side through thick and thin. One is not above the other; both are equal.
· "We'll Strengthen each other. . ." Through vital relationships, we become stronger, as we help each other through struggles, temptations and shortfalls, and as we encourage one another towards spiritual growth.
Promise Keepers

The Bible tells us to:
Love each other. (John 15:17)
Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)
Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Ephesians 4:32)
Carry each other's burdens. (Galations 6:2)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (James 5:16)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
When two or more come together in Jesus’ name, He is there. (Matthew 18:20)
Accept one another. (Romans 15:7)
Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)
Accountability is our duty as members of the same body. (1 Corinthians 12:26-27)

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17).

Champions

As I write, I am watching the men’s Olympic Trials for the 100, 200, and 1500 meter semi-finals. It’s incredible, really. The muscle mass of the sprinters. The disciplined pacing of the 5000 meter runners. The strength of their finishes. The power of their strides. It is God’s creation at its finest. The 1500 meter is one of my favorite distances to watch: it is short enough never to be interrupted by a commercial break, long enough to pick a favorite runner, and you can see the pacing-slower at first but that last 400 meters is a blur of muscle. The top 1500 semi-final finisher crossed the line with a time of 3:40:07. Phenomenal.

I couldn’t just sit and watch. Oh, I had my favorites and cheered loudly (a sincere apology to my neighbors), but I had to be involved in their physical prowess in some way. So, I grabbed my free weights from the weight room and had a personal max-out session during the Olympic trials. It was challenging, inspirational, and painful. But as long as they kept running at such high speeds, I keep pressing. My shoulders are now so weak that I can hardly type, but it was worth it. Worth it - it was incredible. I was able to taste it. For that hour, I sweated alongside the runners trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

Not that I am anything like them. They are runners from head to toe, twenty-four hours a day. I am a runner for an hour or two a day between work and sleep and socializing and life. As I lay a mass of quivering, jello-like muscle, after my max out session, I started to think about what separates those Olympic-level runners from the rest of us. Yes, they have talent, they are superior athletes. But what truly sets them apart from us, the mass of runners who rise at 5am every morning to hit the trails? If you had the same coaches, sponsors, racing shoes, and ran for a living….. what makes them Olympic runners while the rest of us are just runners?

DISCIPLINE
Early morning runs; check. Strength training; check. Speed drills; check. Rain, snow, or Texas-style heat; makes no difference. Olympic level runners never stop running, never stop training, never stop. Everything about their life is disciplined. That sounds exhausting, but the secret about discipline is that every day you live up to those high standards inspires the next day and the next. Just enough discipline to train today makes tomorrow’s training happen. When I miss a workout, or sleep through my early morning alarm, or eat so much that I can’t make it past a 5k – those are the days that discourage me from reaching my training goals in the coming days.

A CLEAR GOAL
Those runners are top level competitors because they live every second of every day with their ultimate goal in mind. They are runners and nothing or no one can distract them from that goal. They are focused on an end-point and can see nothing but the finish line. My weakness as a runner is that I get distracted by a late night, a bowl of homemade ice cream, or a blister and stop living like a runner. Honestly, I am a distracted runner. I sometimes forget that I am in training. I get distracted by life and can’t quite make out the finish line. Obviously, the Olympics are not in my future.

I know some Olympic-level Christians. They are all-in when it comes to Jesus Christ. They are the Christ-followers who wake up in the middle of the night with a burden to pray for the persecution in the Sudan. They tithe even when they don’t get a paycheck. They witness the gospel in their life, words, and actions: purposefully and unintentionally. They start churches, serve as missionaries in closed countries, give to the needy in secret, spend hours each day being cleansed by the Word, and pray without ceasing. They are poured out for Jesus Christ every minute of every day. Spiritual Olympians.

What sets Spiritual Giants apart from your every day average Christian? What makes a Spiritual Olympian different from the masses who fill the church pews each Sunday? We have the same resources: made in the image of God, salvation provided by Jesus Christ, guidance by the Holy Spirit, written instructions and inspiration in the Bible, direct connection to God through prayer. What makes them Spiritually elite while everyone else are Sunday-only Christians?

DISCIPLINE
Early morning times with God; check. Lat night Scripture memory; check. Bible study; check. Faithful hearing, preaching, teaching of the word. Listening to God in prayer. Interceding on behalf of others. Obedience to the Holy Spirit. Confession of sin. Witnessing the gospel of Christ to the lost. Discipling the saved to maturity. Olympic-level Christ followers never stop following Christ, never stop running the race of the Christian life, when they look back it is only for a moment and then they run on. Everything in their lives is about Jesus, for Jesus, because of Jesus. And to be with Him, to be like Him, everything about their life is disciplined. They are so dependent on Him that everything in life is controlled by Him to be closer to Him. "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27.

A CLEAR GOAL
Those Christians are spiritual giants because they live every second of every day with their ultimate goal in mind. Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, the redemption of the world is their first and last though, the reason for everything they do. Spiritual Olympians are focused on the finish: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7. The weakness in the Christianized masses is that they are distracted by life, love, worry, stress, and football season – and forget their purpose. To be a spiritual giant, a Christian must make God number one, barr none.

Chances are, you will never make the Olympics. But you can be numbered among the elite, those who walk with God. You have the victory of the cross, the power of Jesus Christ, the counsel of the Holy Spirit, and the will of God on your side. All that is needed is you to fix your eyes on the goal and discipline yourself to reach it.

"Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:18-22

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:12-21.

As you watch the Olympic trials and the Beijing Olympic Games, remember that you have the opportunity of a lifetime (of an eternity, actually) to be number among the spiritual elite, those who knew God. All that is required is a disciplined faith with an unwavering focus on the prize.

It is your life, your race, your choice.

Will you run with the masses or be a Champion?

Choose wisely.

Spiritual Olympians:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.
- By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
- By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
- By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
- By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
- By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
- By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
- By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
- By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
- By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated- of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.