But in 2013, the fight or flight response has taken a new meaning.
It has taken the form of overthinking, nervousness and anxiousness of things that may happen or may not happen. Most of the time, this inaction takes the place of action. A student may worry so much about taking a test that it psyches them out to the point where they don’t even study; where if they study, take the test, and just not worry about it, they will probably do better.
In the world of running, or even sports for that matter, this phenomenon is how sports psychologist’s feed their families.
I have been training this particular track season for almost 24 weeks. 24 weeks is a long time and if I am training for 24 weeks, how am I not in shape? How have I not PR’ed, how am I getting worse?
The answer to this question is: my mind.
My fight or flight response has instructed me to worry, overanalyze, and back down. Instead of just doing the right things, supporting my team, getting the work done and enjoying the recovery, I have over thought everything to the point where my mind has thought me out of shape.
To really be honest, running or even sports for that matter mean nothing.
The fact that playing a game or participating in a competition that has no real impact on the betterment of society is a real value, or even the meaning of life to some people, is pretty ridiculous in the big picture.
The ancient man ran because they had to get away from hungry tigers. The fact that we worry ourselves sick about running to simply see how fast we can cover a certain distance is laughable. Let’s say I don’t ever PR again; this doesn’t mean I die. If I don’t run away from the tiger, I’m dead. And I would even go as far as saying the ancient man didn’t even think about whether or not this tiger running after him was going to kill him, he just ran as fast as he could and looked for the nearest cave to hide in.
So, we got 10 days till PSACs. These past 24 weeks, you ate what you ate, you ran what you ran, you lifted what lifted, and you slept what you slept. Nothing, NOTHING, you can do can change that. No matter what you do, you cannot relive and fix a past mistake. Move on and just do. Realize where you are at, enjoy the taper, control the things you can control and leave the results to God.
Run like the ancient man. Run as fast as you can until you see the finish line.
Run for the people who DO run because of fear. There are people around the world who would beg for the opportunity to get to race carefree around a state of the art track; however they have to run to run to school, run to eat, run to drink, run to survive.
Run to give thanks, for a life we don’t deserve and we squander each and every day.
Run for a God who forgives. That even if we come in first or last, we will live with Him eternally if we believe and trust in Him.
Run for your brothers and sisters, family and friends. I believe nature or nurture goes both ways. Our nature is determined by the nurturing of others. Think about that the next time you see a cross. Without God’s nurturing, our personal potential means nothing. Without His purpose, our flash of a life REALLY is insignificant.
I pray that I don’t worry about PSACs, I pray that this 10k/5k double doesn’t leave me lying awake the night before overthinking my training and wondering whether or not I have it in me.
It’s just a race. My life doesn’t ride on it.
But the opportunity in this race is endless. The opportunity to glorify my Creator, the opportunity to let Him control my destiny is something He relishes; the opportunity to leave the results to Him and just do what he instructs me to do is pleasing to Him. The fact that He can take something as meaningless as a run and have it praise His name is a miracle. And the fact that I have over 9 MILES to do this on a track, that should be a blessing in itself!
The fact that if we run in His name with praise, gratitude and unafraid; it is the cake, the icing, the sprinkles, the ice cream…its everything; all that really matters.
A breakthrough season performance --- well, a little cherry on
top would be nice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7
“I believe God made me
for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.-
Eric Liddel (Chariots of Fire)
