You Want to Be Strong, Right?

The rain was pouring down hard. I had just laced up my running shoes, and I was ready to head out for my daily adventure of 5 miles. It was not raining as I was preparing to go. It just started in time for me to head out into it, or turn back and retreat to the warmth of my home. I had a choice to make.

My body was not eager to go and face the elements, but my mind said, "Go!"

And so I went.

It was cold, and I was soaked after my first few steps. There were large puddles everywhere. I tried to dodge them, but it became pointless. My feet were getting wet from rain above, and puddles below.

I do not like running in the rain. I would take snow over rain. When it rains, my feet get wet, and it is hard to keep a positive running attitude with soggy feet.

At around the 3 mile mark, I was starting to feel a little downtrodden. I was out there alone, wet from head to toe. My shoes were filled with water; it was like I was wearing two fishbowls on my feet. They made a nice squishing noise with each step. My socks were trapping the moisture on my skin. My feet were waterlogged and pruning, like when skin is in the bath for too long.

I was not very comfortable. It was hard not to let negative thoughts enter my mind. Those not-so-positive thoughts started pelting my brain, causing my emotions to prune up like my feet.

I started to pray for the rain to let up. At that moment I could have used a break, and perhaps a burst of sunshine to brighten my journey. I needed something, so I could keep going. I prayed for sun and a relief from the relentless pounding of the water.

But I got an answer I was not expecting.

I heard a voice whisper to me saying, "Mari, the rain will make you stronger. You want to be strong, right? Be strong, and keep running."

I felt my heart lift with a new found strength. My intention with running and training is to become more of a machine. I do not want to be phased by the elements. It is easier to run on a pleasant weather day, when there is sun, warmth, and beauty. But on the days when the elements test me, those are the hard days; the days where I find what I am made of. Rain is particularly hard because it disrupts the comfort of the key element of running -- the feet. Having soggy feet is hard to push through mentally. It's one thing to have an annoying pebble in the shoe, and another thing to have a lake rising from the sole to the laces.

But after my little chat with Heaven, I continued to push forward. I regained control of my positive thoughts, they really are key for running strong. I felt something surge through me, knowing that the rain and the battle with the weather was making me stronger, not just physically, but mentally too. I had to pull out all my positive mental stamina to finish strong while being soaked and cold. It was a good test for my mind.

At some points during hard moments I repeated in my head, "I have the Light of Christ in me, I feel warm. I am warm. With Him, I am strong. I am strong. With Him, I can do anything."

I made it home, and dried off while strength-training. My feet were a frightful mess when I took off my socks. But I survived, and I learned a valuable lesson.

The rain will make me stronger.

No matter the weather, I need to be strong, and keep running.

Just keep running, just keep running... running, running, running!