Parenting and Jogging - Completion

 

Well, I did it.

 

After 630 kms of training over 6 months, I finally raced.

 

In almost complete darkness at 6:30 am last Sunday I was on the starting line.

 

I completed my first-ever, and last-ever, ½ marathon.

 

The official time is yet to come but by my watch it was around 2 hours and 25 minutes.

 

My first goal was to simply complete the 21.1 kms course.

 

I did that.

 

My second goal was to run the entire way.

 

I did that.

 

(Although climbing the 400 metre hill at around the 13 kms mark was the most challenging section of the race!)

 

My third goal was to run the race in under 2 1/2 hours.

 

I did that.

 

My vague hope (or distant wish) was to beat Emily, my 18 year old daughter, to the finish line.

 

We had a 200 sprint to the finish line and I was ahead by one stride at the end.

 

Throughout the race I concentrating on what I was doing, not thinking ahead too much. It was only when the finish line was in sight that I started to think about actually finishing.

 

It is such a satisfying feeling to set a goal, work steadily towards it, and then to complete it.

 

I feel very sore and very happy.

 

Parenting and Jogging - Pure Enjoyment

 

Getting to the point where a 10 kms run is a pleasure is a joy.

 

The progression to running my first complete lap, then 2 laps, then 3 and gradually up to 8 laps involved a lot of effort.

 

To now comfortably run 4 laps and then to recover in only a few minutes is great fun. I look forward to and enjoy the challenge of the longer run on the weekend.

 

My runs are one of the highlights of my week.

 

I love being out in the cool of the day, enjoying the breeze, the sky and the trees.

 

I enjoy feeling my muscles work and simply love to run.

 

In my parenting, I now have two adult children.

 

I have spent hundreds of hours training their hearts and teaching virtues.

 

I have planted seeds of right and pulled weeds of wrong from their lives.

 

Now, I simply enjoy the young adults they are.

 

I enjoy their stories, their humour, their friends and their experiences.

 

I enjoy playing tennis with them, shopping together, eating out and supporting the Western Sydney Wanderers Soccer team together.

 

The season of reaping is a joy.

 

Parenting and Jogging - Challenges

 

 

 

From time to time I faced some challenges to my training program.

 

A rolled ankle in a basketball game meant I missed two sessions of jogging.

 

A couple of 46˚ Celsius days meant it was simply too hot to be outside let alone jog.

 

School camp for one week meant I was unable to have the time to run for those four days.

 

Occasionally it would be raining when I had scheduled a training run.

 

So how did I respond to the challenges?

 

For the rolled ankle and hot days I swam at an indoor pool instead.

 

During the camp I took a long fast walk along the beach instead of a run (I discovered I can’t run on soft sand – way too much effort for my muscles!)

 

When it was raining, I still ran – so lovely and refreshing.

 

The parenting journey has some challenging times too.

 

Some days are just one long challenge.

 

Expecting them can help a little. I didn’t expect a problem free day with my toddlers so I wasn’t surprised when I had issues to sort through.

 

Being as proactive as possible was helpful. Thinking through in advance what may happen when I took my toddlers to the shops today and how I would respond greatly improved my chances of responding more calmly to the situation.

 

Also thinking through challenges afterwards was beneficial. If the trip to a friend’s house for a play was a disaster, then I would try and identify where it all went wrong and have a new plan for the next visit.

 

Challenges are part of any journey.

 

Keeping eyes on the goal will ensure you keep moving forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parenting and Jogging - Along the Way

Well I expected to get a little fitter if I ran for 30 – 40 kms each week. I also expected that my muscles would tone up and that I would lose a few kilos. I had also expected that I would crave good food for fuel to run and that my appetite would increase as I ran more.

 

I’m enjoying these benefits and love having extra energy for each day and appreciate the overall sense of well being I now experience.

 

One benefit that I had not anticipated was the joy of having 1 or 2 hours of concentrated thinking time three times a week. In the busyness of a week filled with a family to care for, teaching, studying, basketball, tennis, church and ministry, alone time is very rare.

 

I use this ‘head space’ time to pray for my family, school, friends and church. I think through issues and process responses to challenges in my week. This time for meditating, contemplating, quietening my soul has been an unexpected gift.

 

I cherish this time of peace in my heart.

 

So how does this relate to the parenting journey?

 

I had a few expectations in the beginning. I knew there would be lots of feeds, nappies, naps and messes in those early years. I also knew there would be precious moments of laughter, hugs, smiles and memory makers.

 

I had not anticipated the depth of the challenges to myself. My emotions have been stretched beyond what I imagined – from times of great despair in all-night prayer vigils for a wayward choice to the heights of overwhelming gratitude for a wonderful achievement.

 

I am a different person due to the adventure of parenting.

 

I’m glad.