The Christian marathon runner, lesson number 1

March 19, 3:48 PMChristian Worldview ExaminerBill Belew

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The Christian marathon runner - lesson number 1.

I have a very long list of 'nuggets' that I picked up when I trained for triathlons and ultramarathons.

I want to share them here, one-by-one or so. They are not in order of importance or when learned.

Rather, it is the list I have (actually, it's a pile of papers that I have) accumulated over time. I gathered these thoughts, insights from many sources, runner/writers, triathlete/writers, training manuals and so on. Some of them were more meaningful to me at the time; many have become very meaningful over time. Some started out as lumps of coal, and now are diamonds.

All of them helped me learn what it took to be a Christian for the long run, to the very end, till I reached my goal, finished my course, which of course, I have not yet done completely.

Lesson number 1

Few people are brave enough to back off and analyze their training from overtraining.

I spend Tuesday mornings with friends. We share prayer requests, pray over them, study something and have breakfast together. One of the fellows is an ex-Marine and at one time was a serious power lifter. His philosophy "If I am not at the gym, it is likely my competitor is." So, off he went to train, no matter what.

Runners share the same mentality. We will run ourselves into the ground. When we are hurt, we will run through it, thinking we are tough, that we are getting a leg up on our fictitious competitor.

Runners are downright afraid to say, "You know, I think I am doing too much and need to back off." They can't say it, won't say it. It smacks of arrogance as in "See how hard I am trying."

But, if truth be told, sometimes, we just need to sit down, think hard, analyze our regime and ask, "Am I running myself into the ground?"

Jesus recognized that people do get tired, physically and otherwise. A favorite passage is his invitation "to come unto me all you who weary and I will give you rest....and you shall find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:25-30. That last phrase, Jesus borrowed from Jeremiah 6:16. Jeremiah as well knew that sometimes we need to back off...if we are brave enough.

A Christian can try too hard, too long as well. Galatians 6:9 admonishes us to "not grow weary in doing good." Notice also, Galations 5:7.

It is possible to spend too much time at the church building, doing Godly 'stuff', such that you ignore other priorities in your life - your family, your work, your friends.

Be brave enough to realize when it is you are doing too much and back off when necessary. Jesus would have you do so.

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