Last week my husband and I participated in a race called "Run 10 FEED 10" put on by Women's Health and the FEED Foundation. By registering and running a 10K, we were able to ensure that local food banks in the NYC area would be able to provide 10 meals for kids in the area. It was a great feeling. It was a great cause, and I was excited to run it; I was even more excited (and shocked) when my husband said he would run it with me. Last week we did exactly that. As I was running, I was amazed at how much I realized and learned while trucking through the Big Apple. In the next few posts, I wish to share what I learned with you. Enjoy!
Part 1: Greater Love Hath no Runner...
My husband is not a runner. He runs, but he is not a runner I run for fun. He wouldn't use the words "run" and "fun" in a sentence together- ever. I enjoy running. He tolerates it. It is merely a means to an end for him. He runs to stay in shape. I run for a million different reasons- only one of which is to stay fit. I say that so you understand just how flabbergasted I was when he agreed to run the race with me.
Not only did he agree- he did it willingly! No arm twisting needed- he said yes- the first time I asked! After I got over the initial shock, I have to say that I was genuinely pleased that he wanted to run a six mile race with me. But wait- it gets better.
So, about three weeks before race day, he injured his knee playing basketball. He has had knee problems in the past, and usually they clear up in a week or two, so while I was apprehensive, I had faith he'd be okay. One week passed. He was limping. Another week passed. He could walk normal, but running was out of the question. A few more days passed and he attempted a two mile run. He completed it, and with lots of stretching and hot compresses- he was able to stave off any stiffness, but I was still nervous.
Two easy miles is nothing compared to six hard miles on race day. And not only was he going to have to run six miles, he was going to have to walk around NYC afterward!
As we lined up and prepared to take off on race day, all of this was floating around in my head. Would he be okay? Would his knee hold up? I had asked him repeatedly if he wanted to run- assured him he could walk at any time, but he refused. He insisted he was okay. "I'm not walking!" He scoffed. Okay. That was the end of that conversation!
They grouped us according to pace, and assigned us a group leader. They gave us the green light, and we were off and running- literally! Instantly, we were running through the streets of NYC with a group of people who had signed up for the same pace we had. For the first mile or so, we ran from block to block; then, we entered Central Park. At this point, I decided to check my Nike run apparatus to see exactly how fast we were going. It felt really fast. My husband was keeping up, but I began to notice he was getting tired. He hadn't trained for this like I had (mostly due to his knee,) and I had convinced him to join the nine-minute mile pace group with me so we could run together, even though he felt more comfortable in ten. I pushed the button on my Ipod and my Nike plus told me we were running a crazy 7 minute 45 second pace! I thought I was going to die! I never ran that fast! We still had over 4 miles to go! If I was nervous, how must he be feeling? I was instantly torn- I wanted to really run this thing. My thoughts swirled: Should I slow down with him or keep going? What if he got a cramp? What if he needed me? What if I couldn't keep this pace? Then I realized that because the course wasn't marked, I had to stay with our group or I'd be lost!
Then something amazing happened: my husband was slowing down, and although I was sticking with the group, I slowed down to run beside him. We signed up together, we'll run together, I thought. I glanced at him, and he waved me on. "Are you sure?" I asked. The answer: a breathless wave. "Go." He said.
So I did.
Amazing.
And as I did, I was overcome with gratitude. Not only did he risk his health, his knee, and his dignity, to run with me- but he wanted me to do well. He was okay with me running my own race. I didn't know if I wanted to smile, cry, or hug him. I was just so thankful. He was willing to endure whatever pain might come afterward, risk injury, and defeat just to be with me- because it was important to me. Because I needed the support.
I was instantly reminded of what the Bible says in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."
In that moment, I felt truly loved.
As I trucked on at a pace I wasn't sure I could maintain, I ended up beside another girl in our group. "I feel like we're going way faster than 9 minutes per mile," I huffed. "Me too," She agreed. After a few moments of talking, she confided, "I'm only doing this for her." She motioned to a friend a few feet in front of us. "She found it on a webpage that lists events, and asked me to do it with her, so I said yes." Here it was again. "Greater love hath no man..." I was astonished.
I can understand giving a friend a gift on their birthday, or making a meal for them, or even watching their kids if they need it, but running six miles? Are these people crazy?
As I pondered this, I realized, not only was I loved by my husband, but I was loved by God, and he did WAY more than run six miles with a bum knee for me!
John 3:16 tells us, "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
There is a lot packed in that little verse. Let me break it down for you:
1. God loves you
2. He gave His only Son for you- to die a death you deserved to die.
3. He took your death sentence, and changed it for EVERLASTING life...with Him.
Amazing.
Isn't it obvious: this is a GREATER love.
It's for you.
Just like my husband sacrificed himself for me- God sacrificed for you. Don't ever forget that. No matter what- His love for you is GREATER.
Not only did he agree- he did it willingly! No arm twisting needed- he said yes- the first time I asked! After I got over the initial shock, I have to say that I was genuinely pleased that he wanted to run a six mile race with me. But wait- it gets better.
So, about three weeks before race day, he injured his knee playing basketball. He has had knee problems in the past, and usually they clear up in a week or two, so while I was apprehensive, I had faith he'd be okay. One week passed. He was limping. Another week passed. He could walk normal, but running was out of the question. A few more days passed and he attempted a two mile run. He completed it, and with lots of stretching and hot compresses- he was able to stave off any stiffness, but I was still nervous.
Two easy miles is nothing compared to six hard miles on race day. And not only was he going to have to run six miles, he was going to have to walk around NYC afterward!
As we lined up and prepared to take off on race day, all of this was floating around in my head. Would he be okay? Would his knee hold up? I had asked him repeatedly if he wanted to run- assured him he could walk at any time, but he refused. He insisted he was okay. "I'm not walking!" He scoffed. Okay. That was the end of that conversation!
They grouped us according to pace, and assigned us a group leader. They gave us the green light, and we were off and running- literally! Instantly, we were running through the streets of NYC with a group of people who had signed up for the same pace we had. For the first mile or so, we ran from block to block; then, we entered Central Park. At this point, I decided to check my Nike run apparatus to see exactly how fast we were going. It felt really fast. My husband was keeping up, but I began to notice he was getting tired. He hadn't trained for this like I had (mostly due to his knee,) and I had convinced him to join the nine-minute mile pace group with me so we could run together, even though he felt more comfortable in ten. I pushed the button on my Ipod and my Nike plus told me we were running a crazy 7 minute 45 second pace! I thought I was going to die! I never ran that fast! We still had over 4 miles to go! If I was nervous, how must he be feeling? I was instantly torn- I wanted to really run this thing. My thoughts swirled: Should I slow down with him or keep going? What if he got a cramp? What if he needed me? What if I couldn't keep this pace? Then I realized that because the course wasn't marked, I had to stay with our group or I'd be lost!
Then something amazing happened: my husband was slowing down, and although I was sticking with the group, I slowed down to run beside him. We signed up together, we'll run together, I thought. I glanced at him, and he waved me on. "Are you sure?" I asked. The answer: a breathless wave. "Go." He said.
So I did.
Amazing.
And as I did, I was overcome with gratitude. Not only did he risk his health, his knee, and his dignity, to run with me- but he wanted me to do well. He was okay with me running my own race. I didn't know if I wanted to smile, cry, or hug him. I was just so thankful. He was willing to endure whatever pain might come afterward, risk injury, and defeat just to be with me- because it was important to me. Because I needed the support.
I was instantly reminded of what the Bible says in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."
In that moment, I felt truly loved.
As I trucked on at a pace I wasn't sure I could maintain, I ended up beside another girl in our group. "I feel like we're going way faster than 9 minutes per mile," I huffed. "Me too," She agreed. After a few moments of talking, she confided, "I'm only doing this for her." She motioned to a friend a few feet in front of us. "She found it on a webpage that lists events, and asked me to do it with her, so I said yes." Here it was again. "Greater love hath no man..." I was astonished.
I can understand giving a friend a gift on their birthday, or making a meal for them, or even watching their kids if they need it, but running six miles? Are these people crazy?
As I pondered this, I realized, not only was I loved by my husband, but I was loved by God, and he did WAY more than run six miles with a bum knee for me!
John 3:16 tells us, "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
There is a lot packed in that little verse. Let me break it down for you:
1. God loves you
2. He gave His only Son for you- to die a death you deserved to die.
3. He took your death sentence, and changed it for EVERLASTING life...with Him.
Amazing.
Isn't it obvious: this is a GREATER love.
It's for you.
Just like my husband sacrificed himself for me- God sacrificed for you. Don't ever forget that. No matter what- His love for you is GREATER.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
P.S.
In case you're wondering...my husband did finish the race... without injury. He even completed it just a few seconds after I did. Talk about perseverance! I'm so proud!
P.S.
In case you're wondering...my husband did finish the race... without injury. He even completed it just a few seconds after I did. Talk about perseverance! I'm so proud!