So, I did it.
This morning, I registered for the Patrick Henry Half Marathon on Saturday morning. I may be the slowest person in the race, but that’s ok. My goal isn’t about time, it’s about distance. I just want to finish the race.
And, although I only officially registered for the race this morning, I really began training in April.
Well, really, I guess I began training a few years ago when I started running. I was a pretty casual runner for a long time–going 4 months and running 3 to 4 miles a few times a week. Then in January I joined the 10K training team and realized that with a goal, I was considerably more committed. Crossing those training runs off my calendar with a big purple marker gave me considerable joy. Crossing the finish line on race day felt awesome.
So, after the 10K I decided I needed another goal, and that’s when half marathon training entered the picture.
Folks, I have run 10 miles (ok, I had to walk a couple of minutes) TWICE. 10 slow miles, but 10 miles nonetheless.
I have all the requisite battle scars that runners get. I’ve had a bloody toe from not cutting my toenails fast enough. I’ve almost lost a toenail. I’m pretty sure there is something growing out of the side of my big toe on my left foot, and I’m truly too embarrassed to get a pedicure because I feel it would inflict unneccessary harm on the person giving it. I’ve got tan lines on my legs and arms. I have moved social events to accommodate my long runs and gotten up obscenely early to get them in when it was really not.
After 8 months of legitimate training, I am ready for the race. I am in far better shape than I think I have ever been in my life, and it all started with a
GOAL.
This morning, I was thinking about how to explain to folks why we’re making so many changes to Kids’ Quest, and as someone with a hobby is wont to do, I naturally gravitated to an analogy about running.
We started with the goal and worked backwards.
Our goal is for your kids to become faithful adults who give of their time, talents, and treasure to serve Christ as lifelong disciples. This is what we believe that God desires for your children as well.
Then, we had to work backwards.
This is what my training plan looks like:
It includes long, slow runs, short runs, cross training, weight lifting, stretching, and rest. This plan tells me how to reach my goal. It starts at the end and works backwards. It’s not the tools, it’s not the goal–it’s the strategy.
That’s what we’re doing with this new format for Kids’ Quest. We are looking ahead to what we ultimately want for your children and working backwards.
And we believe that this format provides the strategy to get there.
More on that later this week…
Blessings, Rebecca
