Running a marathon can be hard. Especially the LAST POINT TWO. You spend weeks training to go all the way and finish strong. The finish is where the "magic" is. The finish is where it can get ugly, painful and hard. The finish is where your mind goes back and forth between quitting or pressing on.
But God has given me the gift of what I do with this and how I spend making my extra point two count in life. The extra point is what counts and that means it is not about me. The extra point two is GIVING to others. I don't feel that I need to list the ways I am doing this. This is not about lists. The ways I live out my extra point two in life does not come from obligation or the "I have to do this to be "good" mentality.
Instead it is a JOY. Reaching out connecting, investing, sacrificing and giving is where it is at. It is the extra point two! This is not about saying "yes" to everything or trying to do it all. It is about staying balanced. This is not easy. I fail at this all the time. I try to do to much or I go the other way and become selfish and put blinders on to the needs of others. It is about making time in your mind, heart or life for tough stuff. Things that stretch you, challenge you...to do more. This is way more than physical. This is getting to heart of things. Your motives. Your needs. Your soul. I know, I know...this is tough stuff. It is deeper than the fluff of a W.O.D. but I think there is value in going there. In the end I always seemed to blessed and renewed by these extra point experiences.
As I begin week 3 of marathon training I am happy to reflect and think more about what is important. I love running and I am thankful for each mile. However running is not life. It is secondary to the Extra Point Two of my life.
Training and running marathons in reality can be very insignificant in this thing called life. As you know as a runners and athletes....it is the Extra Point Two of that 26.2 miles that often makes a difference and impact on you and others. It is where you dig deep.
I am excited to dig deep in Eugene and I will continue to have an open heart and mind as to how God can use me to go that Extra Point Two in life as well!
What do you think about the "extra point two"? What does that extra point two look like in your life?
6 comments:
Hi there. This is a very good post. I always say the hardest part of a marathon is definitely the point 2, yet it is also the part you can enjoy the most. I need to start thinking about how that is symbolic to my life...
Wow- this is a great post and you really gave me something to think about on this Monday! I hope my extra point two is spent on my family - especially with making great memories with my daughter who is graduating.
Beautiful post Harmony.
I loved this post Harmony! I am not sure what my extra .2 is in my life, but you have definitely given me something to think about! My life used to revolve around running, but it doesn't anymore. There is much more to life then just running and training. Sometimes you need to take the time to enjoy everything else that life has to offer and not worry about squeezing in a workout or getting a PR at your next race. I am excited for you to run Eugene too. You are going to do AWESOME!
I love the post! your words came out so eloquent and so full of passion and meaning! thank you for continuing to inspire me daily! thank you for the opportunities for us to run together...Love our running chats!
I love how you bring out the Point Two in a race, in life. You've totally got me contemplating what the point two is in my life. Thank you!! Loved this post.
Patty V
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