I’ve always been more of a sprinter than a long distance runner... haha... in primary school right up to high school Aths... if ever i saw my name listed next to an event such as 400 m ‘sprint’ or 800m or *shudder* 1500m... i do believe my heart would literally sink... hahaha... I think it had a lot to do with the fact that i would have been representing my house against those who were made for long distance running. Haha i’m pretty sure everybody dreaded running against DD and LCdC... (really... you would be battling for 3^rd place.. don’t even look at 1^st or 2^nd)

Long distance running requires endurance. Strength of will to push past the pain and focus on reaching the target. Perseverance. Haha i hated long distance running... hahaha to me i guess apart from the improving fitness... i didn’t derive enough pleasure or enjoyment out of the activity. I’ve always enjoyed ball sports a great deal more (arghhhhhhhhh i miss sports!!! I miss PE!!! I miss Gilly!) and of course... some of the sports i played would involve running at some point. Softball... running between bases... (haha the skill was more in sneaking bases) cricket when batting (haha this time the skill was more in running in the ridiculously cumbersome gear and trying not to stumble and fall) Mmm... my strength has always been more towards short bursts of speed and energy. Partly the reason i would be positioned as striker in soccer... i think the times i played centre midfield... i was wishing the ball wouldn’t keep moving so much and just stay down one end of the field... preferably our scoring end... hahaha. Endurance and perseverance? To be perfectly honest? Not my strong points.

Whilst this is the way i tend to be in terms of fitness i guess i do wonder whether i am like this in the way that i live life? Short bursts of speed and energy? But too exhausted or burnt out to maintain that for the long run? Unable to ignore the momentary pain and push onwards? Mmm... something for me to ponder on... and search my heart.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

- Hebrews 12:1

Training my heart, mind, body and spirit to run with perseverance. To focus on You alone. Because Lord, You are all I need.

In Your strength.

By Your grace.

I’ll run.

Labels: observations, perseverance, sports

Updated@8:53 PM