It is one thing to finish, and quite another to finish well. How might you kick it up a notch when everyone around you is calling it a day?
Hit the wall … Bonk … depleted … defeated … done.
Running a marathon is no joke. It’s ultimately not a race of speed, but of strategy. Not of physical strength alone, but also strength of mindset.
The IDEAL way to finish the race is stronger and faster in the second half. It’s what runners strive for … not just to finish, but to finish well. We call it the elusive “negative split.”
How can this be done? In a nutshell it’s a game of training, discipline and self control. You don’t decide the day before to set out the next and run 26.2 miles. You train your body over time. You develop a plan and incrementally, day by day you strategically add the miles, the strength training, the healthy habits and eventually your body begins to adapt.
Training properly requires discipline on all fronts of your life: time, nutrition, rest and mindset. It’s a disciplined daily commitment to run and finish the race.
This type of discipline mandates intense self control. It means saying no to second helpings or staying up late before a long run day. It means prioritizing your time and developing a mindset that is strong enough to see you to the finish. A mindset that is committed to overcoming obstacles.
All this is in preparation to run the race, but what about that negative split? Finishing stronger and faster than you started takes things to a whole new level. It means that at mile 13.1 instead of fatigue setting in, you begin to kick it up a notch. When you might typically hit a wall, you have conditioned your body and mind to push past that exhaustion and accelerate. It requires that when you would expect to feel depleted you have the strength of mind to overcome the deficits and finish stronger in the second half.
Let’s drive this home … Are you at the halfway mark? Feeling tired? Defeated? Ready to turn it in and watch others run the race? Newsflash … This race is yours and it’s not over until God calls you home. Train your body, Discipline your mind, Work out your self control and finish stronger and faster than when you started. Be caught living strong until you “cut the tape” and you are called home.
Decide today to RENEW your mind, your body, your soul before the Lord. Resolve to do what is necessary like the marathon runner at mile 13.1. Follow these steps to a stronger finish.
R – Restore my life
Psalm 71:20 Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter you will restore my life again.
E – Endurance
Hebrews 12:1b-2 … and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. For the joy set before him, ENDURED the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
N – New
I Corinthians 5:17 … therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here!
E – Everlasting
Psalm 139:24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
W – Walk
Psalm 56:13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Lord,
Today I ask that you renew me and allow me even in this second half of life to run stronger than ever before. To treasure this gift of life that you have given me and not to waste a moment of time feeling defeated. Allow me to surrender to you and kick up the speed and finish well!
