Twenty Six Point Two

In September, my best friend, Merilee, and I went to the General Relief Society meeting at the Conference Center.  It was so uplifting and wonderful to be with her and be surrounded by so many women.  The General Relief Society Presidency spoke, along with our dear prophet, President Monson.  I didn't go into the meeting with any specific questions or concerns.  I just wanted to feel the Spirit.

The talks were wonderful.  President Monson ended his talk with a very powerful quote that has stayed with me since.  I have shared it on my blog before, but here it is again:

My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.

I love that!

Anyway, something special happened to me during that meeting.  I have only told a few people about it.  But I think it's time to share here.

Carole M. Stephens was the 2nd speaker, and she gave a wonderful talk.  I was listening.  My mind wasn't wandering.  Ermie and I weren't writing notes to each other like we used to in college.  At the end of her talk, Sis. Stephens quoted Alma 26:11 from the Book of Mormon:

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."

The very moment she read those words, I felt a very, VERY strong impression from the Spirit.  I could almost hear a voice.  The words, "Run a marathon.  With my strength, you can do it." came SO quickly and clearly into my mind.  It sort of stunned me.  I hadn't really been thinking about doing a marathon.  I certainly wasn't thinking about it at the meeting!  Where did that come from?

The Lord told me to run a marathon.  Now, I don't think He really wants me to "run a marathon", but I think He wants me to grow closer to Him and learn how to rely on Him in a new way.  And He is going to use a marathon (well, mostly the marathon training) to do it.  At least that's how I have interpreted this experience.

So....I have signed up to run the Ogden Marathon on May 17, 2014.

Signing up was kind of funny.  I filled out the form and put in the payment info, and then I sat there with the mouse hovered over the "submit" button for several hours.  I had a few of my closest running friends and Nate be my support.  Nate has never once wavered in his confidence in me.  That mean the world to me.  Really, it's all I needed to click that button and all I still need to begin training.  If Nate believes in me, then I believe in myself.  Robert Merriman became a big influence in my decision as well, and he still is one of my biggest cheerleaders.  Janet, Josh and London (and Ty and Monte and Susette and soo many more) have also since joined the bandwagon.  They are refusing to let me back out of this!  I need them so much.

I have NEVER been so scared of anything.  In my LIFE.  Korea was scary.  Moving to Utah was scary.  Nate quitting school was really, really scary.  But this?  This PETRIFIES me.  I don't even really want to do this!  My hip isn't 100% better yet.  My shoulder surgery threw my training way off in December.  I almost convinced myself that a marathon couldn't happen right now.  And maybe it still won't?  I don't know.  But I do know that the Lord will be with me as I try and train the best that I can.

I am using an 18-week training plan.  This means my "official" training begins tomorrow.  January 14.  This date has been on my mind since I signed up in October.  I cannot believe it's here.  Race Day will be here before I know it!  My training plan is written out.  I have a lot of work ahead of me!

May 2014 will be an exciting month!  Graduation and my 26.2.

I will track each week of my training here on the blog.  The first two months won't be too bad.  But March and April will be intense.  I have no doubts that I WILL grow closer to my Heavenly Father.  I am not a very strong runner.  I love it, but I'm not naturally very good at it.  I'm going to need the Lord to strengthen me.

As I posted earlier, my friend Joshua gave me a book by Elaine Dalton.  In it, she says, "A marathon closely parallels life itself.  Sometimes we train alone, sometimes we train in groups.  We get injured, we heal, we fall and get back up, and yes, we take wrong turns and then we return.  We have times of great triumph and times of great trial.  We are required to push through the pain and keep going.  We learn that we never really run alone and that there are scores of angels who guide and guard our journey.  And we come, somehow, in the doing of it all, to realize that our life has purpose and that what we do or don't do matters."

I love that.

This is going to be really, really difficult.  I know that.  I have run 13 miles enough times now to know that doing that distance TWICE is going to hurt.  A few people have told me I'm crazy.  And that's okay.  This is MY journey.  MY run.  MY 26.2.  I have a wonderful running family who has rallied around me.  Their kindness and confidence in me brings me to tears, quite often.  They are my score of angels on earth!  And I cannot thank them or express my love for them enough.

So here I go.  I'm praying I'll make it to the Finish Line.  I'm scared that my hip or another obstacle will get in my way, but even if it does, I will feel peace, knowing that I tried my best.

I have ONE life I get to live.  I can do hard and difficult things.  I can do amazing things.  With the Lord as my strength, I can run a marathon.