Pretty funny even writing those words because I am not a ‘runner’. But Sunday morning at 5:00 am found me with 20,000 other crazy ladies (and a few brave guys) getting ready to start the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon. Yep, that’s right. 13.1 miles.
Somewhere between the ball at Epcot and Cinderella’s castle, I realized this race felt a lot like life.
There is a course in front of us and each morning we get out there and face it.
Although we are surrounded by thousands others, our race is an individual one. It is up to me to put one foot in front of the other, step by step, knowing that God is with me. Maybe that’s why Paul talks so much about running in his writings. Hebrews 12:1 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.
There were a lot of surprises in this race for me. I expected there to be cool Disney stuff along the way, like photo ops with princesses and pirates. I expected to be sore. I expected there to be lots of hard work training and fundraising.
But…..
I never expected the support of my team, Team Freedom, over 100 Jesus girls daring to take a stand with Abolition International against human trafficking, raising over $60,000 one little donation at a time. Complete strangers bonding over a common goal; these sweet sisters laughed and cried and prayed over our Facebook page, finally meeting on race weekend, running for those who are not free to run. Yet.
I never expected to be met at the halfway point on Main Street by my precious daughters who got up at 5:30 to ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom just to wave ‘Run, Mommy, Run’ signs. And yes, I did cry! 
I never expected the thousands of volunteers. They were at every mile marker, ready with Powerade and water and shouts of encouragement.
I certainly never expected this lady (yes, more crying!)
I never expected God to whisper so sweetly to me on the long stretches in between. To almost feel His strong hands in the middle of my back pushing me forward.
I never expected to spend so much time encouraging others as we ran. Laughing together, hearing their stories, and helping them go just a little bit further.
I never expected to turn the corner during the last agonizing mile and be met by a gospel choir! 
I expected to finish – but I never expected to finish with such joy.
To burst into tears when a complete stranger put a finisher medal around my neck! Looking back, maybe because it was a tiny taste of what heaven will be like. ”I have fought the good fight..I have kept the faith. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord will give to me on that day..” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
And that is what is comes down to sweet ones. We are all running our race step by step. Sometimes in the company of many. Sometimes in the agony of alone. But we know that we are running to a goal that is unbelievable.
I pray you can run your race with joy today. That even though life has placed you on a course you never expected, that you can keep taking the next step. May you feel His hand in the middle of your back urging you forward. May you find opportunity to reach out to someone else, even in the middle of your own race. And while your keep your eyes on the prize that is ahead, don’t forget to look for the unexpected surprises and encouragement He will place in front of you this day.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations on finishing your half-marathon, Danita! 13.1 miles is a really big deal and for such a worthy cause! Thank you for your encouraging words for your readers. We are in good company as we all run our individual races in this life! The Lord is always there to cheer us on every step of the way (even when they are baby ones). God bless you as you keep fighting the good fight!
=) You brought a much needed smile to my face! Congrats on your big accomplishment, 13.1 miles is a BIG deal!! Hooray to you!
I am so stinkin’ proud of you sister! I’m proud of you not only for how well you ran the race this past weekend but for how you’re running THE race in this earthly part of lives. So thankful God allowed our paths to cross – even if it had to be in the shadow of grief. Love you!
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Danita – GREAT POST! Thanks so much for sharing. I wish we would have had the opportunity to meet at the race. I have enjoyed your posts on the facebook page. Hopefully, we will get to meet in the near future. Please email me when you get a moment so we can connect more about your ministry. And, congrats on finishing the race!
I am so very proud of you!!!!! I hope one day to do the same!!! I needed you today—it is my last day at work. I am at PEACE because I know our Dear Lord is there with me!!! Please keep me in your prayers that I will find an amazing new job!!!! And again–You Go Girl–I loved it and proud of you!!!!!! Blessings, Barb
Very powerful and inspirational blog entry. Thank you for sharing your glory with us, congratulations on such a fabulous accomplishment…you are fabulous! {hugs}
You just get awesomer and awesomer!
I simply love you my friend.
Love this post. Go Danita! I want to do this some day.
You are an AMAZING lady Danita! I am so proud of you and so proud of your girls for getting up and cheering you on so early in the morning. As I read this, once again I sat with tears pouring down as you cheer so many on with your love for God. Thank you!!!!
Fantastic, Sister!!!!!! So excited for you—- you are certainly full of surprises!
Congratulations! I was a couple months into my marathon training when my husband passed. The training schedule gave me purpose each day and the running cleared my head and helped me sleep each night. I was honored to be selected as a spirit award recipient and my children ran with me part way on the course. Running and my running group has been a tremendous aid in my grieving!
I have been journaling all morning. Sort of my own marathon. I feel like I am killing myself by sitting on my bed for hours, hurting in my neck and back. And as I write about the present time, memories of my husband come and I write about him and about us. Talk about surprises during the race. So I wrote about crying. The different kinds. Quiet. Quiet with huge sobs that shake you so much you can’t do anything. Tears. So many tears you can’t see to write. Tears that clear out of your eyes only to run down and drip off you chin and get annoying. I usually don’t stop the crying. But I was trying to catch up just 2 DAYS and I have written for hours. Then my kids needed me to help them catch up their journals. I write little notes on a blank calendar that my printer makes for me. So I went over the whole month of Feb. More tears. Then I read this post. Where did I cry? At the lady with the sign, “Hello, complete stranger.” What a kind lady. I wonder what her story is; how did she know that encouragement helps one finish a difficult task?
You look so starved. Please be careful with your health. I’m surprised you did not quote “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb. 12:) There were so many witnesses. And the place that REALLY got me crying was the Gospel choir at the finish! Almost gives me goosebumps. Why did God take so many husbands and leave us to run the race alone? Do we exhibit more faith because we do it alone and still praise our Lord? What a huge responsibility. Maybe our husbands are part of that choir right now, learning something even more beautiful than the Hallelujah Chorus, to welcome us with when we are reunited with them someday!
Hi everyone, thanks for all of your sweet comments. Please know that this post was not about ‘amazing me’ running a race. This was about ‘amazing Him’ providing just what was needed along the journey! It felt so much like my life…just putting one foot in front of the other, looking up and out, in spite of the circumstances, Barb- praying for your next great adventure. Debbie- I agree, the training does help to give a focus to the roller coaster of emotions we ride. Jamie- thanks for sharing your heart. I pray your journaling gave you some release and clarity. Sometimes it helps to have a big old ‘ugly cry’ , doesn’t it? And you are right- the encouragement was JUST what was needed. We are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! Stay tuned tomorrow for the ‘pre-quel’ to this blogpost!
I ran the race too! At age 60 – it was my first! I felt the same emotions you did and I really appreciate your analogy here!
God bless you in your ministry to widows.