Define Your Finish Line!

When I finished my first marathon I vowed never to run another again.  It was much harder than I expected and my training was less than sufficient.  I did finish, but it took much longer and I felt much worse than I than I thought it should, than I thought it should, than I thought it should.  “Never again!”

Until about 2 weeks later.

Memories of pain are short lived compared to the memories of accomplishment and the thoughts of what you really think you can do if you just prepare for it properly.  I had made it through 26.2 miles.  I knew I could do it and I believed I could do it faster.

And I did – 8 more times.

I’ve heard it asked – what’s the difference between a runner and a jogger.  The answer I like the most is – “a race application”.  When you sign up for a race, whether it is a 5K or a 50 miler (now that’s just crazy), you have committed yourself.  You have laid out cash to participate and now have an end goal, a finish line, in mind.  It’s time to get serious and prepare.

 

I love the Rocky films (with the exception of Rocky 5).  I love that they spend as much time showing Rocky’s training as they do the actual fight.  How we end up at the Finish Line will be a product of how well we trained to get there.  And that training takes place before we ever get to the Starting Line.

So what is your Finish Line?  What do you want to accomplish?  Right now I am signed up to run a half marathon in the spring.  I have a training plan prepared to help me get ready and meet my time goal.  I start following it this week.  Your finish line may not be a running race – maybe it’s a new ministry, or a new skill you want to develop.  Maybe the plan you need to stick to deals with losing wait, or staying on a budget.  Maybe there is someone you’ve wanted to share the Gospel of Christ with.  It starts with a race application (define your Finish Line) followed by the appropriate training.  Then it’s time to reach the Starting Line and let your training carry you to the finish.
 
Next time I'll talk about the "Training Plan".  But first you need to know what you want to train for.  So whether it’s is a 5K or a marathon, or assisting in the church kids program or leading an adult small group, define your finish line and then put a plan together to get there.

Run On!