It’s no secret that in the past year, I’ve discovered Doctor Who and gotten slightly obsessed. Nor is it a secret that in the past year, I’ve also discovered running. And also gotten a teensy bit obsessed.
So when a
former supervisor of mine, Michele (the awesome, energetic, marathon-finishing
lady who inspired me to run in the first place), told me about the Doctor Who
50th Anniversary Virtual Run, I had to sign up, because that’s the
best combination of any two things I’ve heard of.
Really, Doctor Who and running go together like peas
and carrots. Peanut butter and jelly. Pancakes and veggie sausage. The show
could sort of be summed up like this: a regenerating alien takes attractive
female companions through time and space, rescues people, saves planets, spits
out loveable catchphrases, and runs a whole lot.
So, yeah. I
didn’t know what a virtual run was, but of course I signed up. Turns out it
operates on an honor system. You do the race on your own time, then e-mail your
results to the race coordinator. The proceeds go to help victims of the Boston
Marathon bombing, and you get a sweet
medal with the Tardis on it!
The air was
a lot cooler Tuesday afternoon- it actually felt like fall!- so I took the opportunity
to do my 5K then. I put on my Tardis t-shirt (yes, I have one, don’t judge), pinned
on my bib, and headed to the track.
Allons-y! |
I mentioned
in a recent post about how I’ve somehow managed to improve my endurance to
running 2-miles nonstop. Well, somewhere in the middle of the second mile
of this solo 5K, I got the crazy idea to not stop to walk after the end of two
miles. I decided to make myself keep running, no matter how much it hurt.
Maybe it was
the cooler weather. Maybe it was the overall spirit of Doctor Who and having The Eleventh Doctor’s Theme, "I Am The Doctor", blaring in my ears (yes, I downloaded the show’s soundtrack and
made a running playlist. Stop judging me!). Or maybe it was the fact that I’m 2
pounds lighter after my haircut. I don’t know. But whatever it was, it worked.
I ran the entire 3.1 miles.
No stopping.
No walking breaks. Just an awful lot of running.
My time was
exactly 33:00, a new PR for me.
Now, those
last eleven minutes were not pretty. My arms were flailing about so much I
accidentally ripped my bib.
The last five minutes were agony. I had a terribly
sharp side cramp. I shed a tear or two. I gasped several prayers and quoted the
latter part of Isaiah 40 over and over again. They will run and not grow weary.
I wanted to
quit. Instead, I prayed for the Lord to give me the strength and determination
to keep running. And I don’t know why the Creator of the universe would care
about little ol’ me finishing a 3.1 mile run all by myself on a quiet cement
track in late September, but evidently, He did. Because as I prayed, I felt the strength to go on.
Running a 5K
nonstop is like…Bucket List big for me. I genuinely didn’t think it was
possible. I mean, just last year, I couldn’t run longer than thirty seconds without
stopping to catch my breath. Now I’m running steady for thirty-three minutes?!?
How?
I feel like
this happened at the perfect time. My first 3.1 miles during the Doctor
Who run, of all runs. It's like God gave me the opportunity and ability to do this at just the right moment, just for my own amusement and enjoyment. And I love that. I love that He cares that much about me. I love that the God of the universe permeates our tiny, little lives with His love.
"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."
- Matthew 10:29-31
6 comments
So unbelievable! Congratulations! *computerized voice:* "You have passed phase number one on your way to qualifying to be the doctor's next companion. Stand by for phase two..."
Thanks!!!
LOL What in the world does Phase Two entail? A test of swimming, perhaps, to be fully prepared for that aquatic planet?
Amazing!
Reading Matthew 6 now!
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Oh my!! This is so cool! Congrats, you are so hard core, lol! This makes me wish I was a Dr. Who nerd so I could do it too, haha!
Anyway, so proud of you! That must have been an incredible feeling.
Thanks so much! :)
Thank you, girl!!! (And yessss, I wish you were a Doctor Who nerd too... Maybe it is time to join our special fandom???)
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