Last night I decided to enter a 5K race. For those who still only do “standard” measurements, that’s about 3 miles. Forget about the fact that I haven’t even walked regularly for at least 5 months. I’m doing this!

So, this morning, I got up and began what will be relatively intense training. I did Week 4, Day 1 of the Couch to 5K program. For the uninitiated, this is a program where you can run 3 days per week for 9 weeks and go from the Couch, to running a 5K. Week 4, Day 1 is a 5 minute warmup, with a series of walk, run, walk sequences. By the last leg, I was ready to quit, walk and forget about ever being in a 5K.

But, as I was screaming (literally) at myself to keep going, and my lungs were gasping (literally) for air, I found myself thinking about the passage in Hebrews 12 about running with endurance/perseverance and setting aside weights. Part of the reason I’m struggling with this run isn’t just lack of exercise. Some is due to a few pounds I need to lose, which made me HURT.

Hebrews 12:1b “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.”

Running with perseverance is HARD. Sometimes it hurts. But the end of the race is not reached if you don’t push through and continue in spite of the pain. In order to reach the end, you have to prepare for the race. Most people cannot go from their couch to running a 5K with zero preparation. Those that try and finish are in pain and immobile for days (or weeks) afterwards.

Physically, we all struggle with this. Spiritually it is even more of a struggle. We are in a race every day. How well we run depends on whether we’re carrying extra weight, and whether we have the end in sight. I didn’t give up on a practice run because I want to finish well in a race. I need to keep the same persevering attitude in my spiritual life.

Did I mention the race is in 12 days? Time to get in shape!