run, girl, run

I've been contemplating about whether to post about this or not, but I'm going to go ahead and post about "the run" (or more like the run-walk-run). You see around the beginning of April I was shopping at our local food co-op (I'm usually in there at least two or three times a week) and most of the time after I finish checking out I go check the bulletin board at the front of the store. Usually on the board there are flyers for local events, classes, things for sell and so forth. On this particular day a flyer caught my eye, it was a flyer concerning a 5K walk/run. In my head I said to myself "if this race is on a Sunday, I'm game!" (we attend church on Saturday). I took a registration form home and realized that the date for the walk/run was on April 25th-a Sunday, decision made.
In the weeks preceding the race, I started working out more-using the gym membership that I already had, but now putting it to more use. Not all the workouts were enjoyable of course, but the after workout feeling made the workouts seem well worth it (and I do like sweating, it makes me feel like I'm doing something :) I also found this program to be a helpful reference.
The weeks flew by and finally race day approached, which was this past Sunday. More that eight hundred people from our city woke up early to participate in this race (the race benefited a local business that employs people with disabilities).
When I arrived at the racing venue, I placed on my number and got a chip to put on my running shoes. I got out to the starting line, went to the back of the crowd and finally took off when the guy yelled "go!" through his megaphone.
I started off with a slow jog, but then about 1/2 mile into it my calves cramped up (note to self, running on a treadmill is not the same as running on pavement, thanks). I stopped jogging and just began walking-for about a mile and a half. The walking helped out my calves and for the last leg of the race I was able to jog it out to the finish line. I was glad to finish, my body was glad also.
Really what possessed me to do this? I think it's because I need goals-especially in the area of exercise. For most of my life I had periods in which I'm active, and then I fall into the abyss of non-activity-it's a cycle, active, not active, active, not active-around and around. I'm going to be completely honest here and say that really I'm far from my ideal weight and I've struggled with this for most of my life. Genetics, having children, moving from state to state, along with other life stressors, I can try to blame-but excuses, are exactly what they are-excuses.
Now that the race is over, I wonder if I'll keep up my workouts, will I be just as motivated as I was before the race? I think so, a friend of mine gave me this verse when I told her about the race- "I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 NIRV. So true. When it boils down to it, its not about the race, or really about the weight, its about being responsible with my health-being a proper steward of it.