Powered by the Son
My son initiated my new workout program for me, when I was in Colorado. I THOUGHT I was going for a leisurely bike ride beside him while he ran, but I WAS WRONG. There was nothing leisurely about riding up a steep incline beside someone who wins marathon races and sets course records. This workout, to me, seemed like an analogy of life, including how we are trusting God and the example of his son, to show us how to exercise power and dominion over anything that would seem to slow us down or stop us.
In hind sight, I know now that the difficult workout is a good thing. I survived that workout, and the fact that I completed it, makes me think I can do more than I realize. (on a side note, the bible talks about making crooked places straight, and Colorado running is definitely a lesson in the difficulty of navigating crooked places instead of straight ones.) Many things worth having are difficult to accomplish or earn.
We started out in the early morning, and the sun was streaming down and the skies were a brilliant blue. Compared to Texas, the sixty degree weather felt amazing. I even had to wear a sweat shirt.
We pumped up the tires on my bike, and got a water bottle. Then we set off down the dirt road. My son had his ear buds in and was listening to country music and occasionally he would sing along and I really enjoyed the FLAT part of the workout. Soon enough though, there were hills. As I struggled to keep up, he raced ahead seemingly effortlessly.
I do not know about you, but watching someone on FOOT move faster than someone pedaling with all their might on a bicycle, felt slightly humorous and humbling. I have done spin classes, and I ride bikes often, but I simply could not keep up. Out of sympathy for my predicament, (as I was contemplating calling my husband to come get me in the truck), my son circled back and ran behind me the entire length of the hill, pushing against my back to help me keep up. He had to do this again and again, at least fifty percent of the time, and still simultaneously try to keep the pace he had set for himself as a training run.
Ok my son is really an amazing runner, there is no doubt about it. And I was berating myself for not being able to keep up this time, like I did a few years ago, My son counciled me to mentally stay in the perfect present. What could I do NOW, today, to improve, to push myself, to arrive and expect a perfect completion, he asked, as I enjoyed this beautiful environment of sunshine, willowy grasses, horses and babbling streams.
As we continued on, I gradually began to appreciate how each turn and bend offered a fresh new beautiful perspective and view…places I lived near for years, but had never experienced.
I began to push harder on the ups, and relax more and enjoy the flats or the downs. I felt a swell of pride for my son, his unique abilities, and for all he has accomplished, and felt grateful that he was willing to keep helping those who struggle to keep their athleticism intact.
The training was good for my morale and offered me a chance to remember all the training I have done in the past. They talk about muscle memory, but the live visualization of real workouts and memories of a workout as it happens is incomparable to any live streaming or anything such as a Peloton.
This day, thank you Jesus, was better than a spin class, better than strength training, and best of all, I got to spend time with my son.
Each day I start my day with a prayer of gratitude, and this day, I felt “they kingdom come” as I ran through some of the most beautiful countryside I have seen in a while.
Yes I felt my quads getting tight and I had to really push, but I stopped focusing on the negative thought of “can I do this” and instead focused on the thought “my legs are strong” and “the earth is beautiful”. My husband did not have to come pick me up and we did ten miles in less than an hour. My son said that we “crushed” it.
Now, back in Texas, I am continuing with his individualized plan for me, and I got up and did my new workout and it is very do-able. It is different from the ten thousand steps that I have been doing on my own and I am excited to see how much the new workout helps me improve.
Yes Texas is hot, but I love the humidity, and the way it feels to jump into the pool after the workout is over. Each environment has its own challenges and its own appeal, and each workout is one step closer to my goals.