I was a faithful runner for three years. Then I slowly lost the habit and allowed life to keep me from this love. Since then we have had on off again and on again love affair.
My second year in Korea I went on a trip to the beautiful Mt.Sorak with teachers from my school and some friends from the Hospitality House. Hiking up this mountain was a huge reality check as I was lagging behind everyone and had to stop several times to catch my breath even to be able to continue. I am used to being the one to be "leading the pack" and pushing the pace--so this was a new position for me.
This is me taking one of my many water breaks.
This was in September.
Despite this huge reality check of how out of shape I had gotten, I still struggled to take up running as Korean winters are freezing. Spring came around and God brought into my life a running partner, Sarah. Together we started training for half marathon in October, along with Gene. Sarah and I would run each morning, and all three of us would do our long run together on Saturday mornings.
The following September I returned to Mt.Sorak with teachers from my school and Sarah. Sarah and I literally ran to the top of the mountain, slowing down only when the steepness caused us to. It was pouring that day. The picture below is my victory picture of redeeming the previous years rough climb.
Sadly, after our half marathon Sarah was no longer able to run with me in the mornings. I was sad but honestly thought that after 6 months of running I would be able to keep it up.
Yeah--didn't happen. Haven't really run much since. That was a little over a year and a half ago.
So here I am once again, trying to take up the habit. I love the habit when I am in it, but my flesh protests for about the first month. I believe I fell so in love with running because I have some of my best conversations with the Lord when I am running. Or shall I say some of my best listening times.
Just a little history on my love affair with running. I am not sure if I will ever take it up again...but I do LOVE it.
