Relationships with Running

I am reminded yet again that there is no greater therapy than running, and running in the rain even more so.  It makes me feel as though God is crying with me, but then when I look up in the sky and see light shining through, I know He is also showing me hope. 

As I run, I often think of themes to reflect on to pass the time.  Fittingly enough, having started the run with a heavy heart, this run focused on the similarity between running and a relationship.  Why?  Well there are various reasons and I will list a few.  For one, all running must start from a firm base.  Jumping into a sub 5 min mile is not going to happen for everyone, nor is running an ultramarathon.  Relationships must also start from a sound base of friendship or companionship before they advance.  To complete a run, you have to take that first step.  Just as in a relationship you have to be willing to be open to it.  Typically, we let adrenaline carry us and take off too fast during the first mile.  In a relationship, that first mile is the first couple of months where we are full of infatuation and imagining the possibilities.  We have to settle into a pace that saves our energy to keep going.  As a runner, we are faced with several injuries from the past that we carefully monitor and pay close attention to, trusting they won’t reoccur.  That is similar to emotional baggage from previous relationships and heartbreak.   The distance of a run is comparable to long distance relationships.  The further it is, the crazier people think you are for attempting it.  Oftentimes, the greater the distance is, such as a marathon, the greater the reward and fulfillment.   But with great distance, comes the need for even more dedication and drive, more determination to see it through.  To make a long distance relationship work, you have to want it more than anything and you have to be willing to make sacrifices and step out of your comfort zone.  In every run, there are setbacks.  Be it cramps, dehydration, hitting a wall, or just lacking motivation to go any further, as runners we have to mentally defeat these obstacles one by one and realizing that slowing pace or listening to our bodies might be necessary.  Relationships are full of challenges, but we are made stronger by them and have to fight for what we want despite the suffering that might ensue.   No matter what, there will be times when we just have to pray to God to give us the strength we need to go one more step, one more mile, to reach the finish.  God is critical to any relationship, and trusting in Him might just be the only possible solution at times.  Like running, relationships always have room for improvement.  Sometimes we will fail at a goal or won’t finish a run.  Some runs are more like sprints or we step out the door just as a storm begins.  But if we keep running, we never fail.   Running is a beautiful gift, but it can also bring us to tears.  No matter what, I believe every step of the journey is worth it for the thrill of reaching the finish line whether that is tangible or just in our mind.   Love is equivalent to the finish line, there is no better feeling than seeing it and when you reach it, all the challenges to get there dissipate.  I want a relationship that can withstand any distance, any obstacle, and that makes me feel the same joy and satisfaction as completing the Boston Marathon.  I want someone that will run by my side matter where our feet carry us, hopefully to somewhere I’ve never been before.   Until then, I will continue to run with my heart.  Though it sometimes is in pieces, running makes it whole again.