Time Clock or Finish Line?

Over the last two years, I have become fascinated with long-distance distance running.  Call me crazy, but I felt God whisper into my soul almost two years ago that I needed to plan and train to run a marathon.  I actually tried to laugh it off and dismiss it for the better part of six months, but God wouldn't let me get away from idea of it.  Over the last 18 months, I have finished two half-marathons, and in less than a month, I will run my third half.  My plan is run a full blown 26.2 mile marathon in early June 2011.  

Yesterday, Alison and I spent several minutes watching the elite runners finish the New York City marathon.  It was amazing to watch these incredibly gifted athletes with their gazelle-like strides kick it into high-gear as they made their ways to the winner's podium.

I wish the coverage hadn't stopped there.  

I wish that they would have shown the runners who had no dreams of setting world records, but were bound and determined to cross that finish line no matter the toll that the race course took on their bodies.  Some runners are gifted as world-class athletes, but the common bond of the elite runners and "the fat man on the run (like myself)" is the undeterred grit and passion to finish our races well.  

I will never run with the grace of a Kenyan, but inside my body rests the heart of a champion.  I will not allow the obstacles of my weight and arthritis stop me from running MY best race.  My will has pushed my body to new limits that I never dreamed possible a mere 18 months ago. 

Every day I choose to train should be a celebration.  Each training session is erasing a sedentary lifestyle that I embraced for far too long.  I am doing a re-write on my life.  I'd rather be known as an athlete who was too dumb to quit than as a has-been who was too weak to try!

That's not to say this journey has been easy.  Even today, I was psyching myself out about a six mile run that I really didn't want to do, but knew that I had to get it done.  I whined and moaned and belly-ached while squeezing into my spandex shorts (undergarment--fat men should NEVER run in spandex shorts alone--that's my commitment and promise to each of you) and lacing up my running shoes.  Fifteen minutes later I had finally sucked it up and started pounding the pavement.  When the six miles were over, I was glad that I didn't quit before I started!

For 18 months I have been willing to chase the inkling of a dream that my Father implanted in the depths of my soul.  And I plan to chase that dream until I hold that medal that says "finisher" in my hand a short eight months from now!

See you at the finish line!

Comments

[Air Jordans]

He who loses faith, loses all.

[Jon MacDonald]

Hello Nolan. I went to college with you. I find your physical/spoiritual balance refreshing and inspiring. Thanks. I have completed a few marathons and my story is pretty similar to yours. I started running and almost Forest-Gump like sort of just kept going. Anyways, thanks for the blog entry. Keep going!!

Jon MacDonald

[Jon MacDonald]

By the way, my training was the key to me dropping 50 pounds of potato chips, doughnuts and late night snacks. And as much as I read, I didn't learn one thing about a marathon until running my first. It was glorious (granted I am an optimist).

[Nolan Bobbitt]

Hey Jon, thanks for stopping by the blog. It's so awesome to read your enthusiastic words about running your first marathon. It's funny, when I put in the hard work of training, my eating habits shape up to fall in line with the training. I have my last big run (12 miles) tomorrow am before running the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis in three weeks! Thanks again for the kind words!