Running with God

Running with God

Posted by on Dec 3, 2011 in Featured, Inspiration, Spirituality | 4 comments

Back in July of this year, I blogged about how I had embarked on a new exercise regimen in hopes of getting ready for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2012. At the time, the whole process was a little rocky. Since then, though, I have progressed to actually start running—some.

The other day, with the race looming over my head and the weeks ticking away, I started researching more concrete training plans than the one I had been following, which was rather sporadic and unfocused.

As I was reading all the plans I discovered that:

1. I’m in way over my head.

2. I needed a mantra.

The plans recommended repeating the mantra for inspiration. They offered some examples, but none of them really resonated with me. Plus I was pretty certain I’d forget them. But one thing I did know I could remember were prayers. So I gave it a shot. Run one Hail Mary, walk an Our Father. Run a Hail Mary, walk a Glory Be. Hey, this could work . Before I knew it I was running my way through the rosary, with an occasional “Dear, God, help me” thrown into the mix.

First I’d alternately run and walk the individual prayers. As I got a little stronger, I would run a decade, then walk a decade. Before I knew it, I was running more than I was walking, with God running right along with me.

Now If I can just figure out how many rosaries make up 13.1 miles, I’ll be all set for the race in February.

 
 

About the Author

By day, Susan Hines-Brigger is the managing editor of St. Anthony Messenger. By night, she and her husband, Mark, are the caretakers and social directors for their four kids: Maddie, Alex, Riley and Kacey.
 
 
 
  • http://twitter.com/busilak jecruz

    I pray the Rosary while running too!  Praying the Our Father and the Glory Be as the walking phase  is also a time to praise the Lord for the wonders of life.  And praying the Hail Mary while running, is proof of the Hail Mary Pass!

  • Len Whitehead

    Great blog entry! I started running seriously a few years ago, and I found that the Rosary is a great mantra to help get through the miles. This past March I finished my first marathon, and am convinced that the four Rosarys I prayed during the ordeal were the difference between finishing and not. God bless.

  • http://kolbemarket.com/blogging-and-linking/ BarbaraKB

    I just want to know, Susan: are those your actual running shoes? ;)

  • http://twitter.com/JimmyHunt Jim Hunt

    I’ve tried saying the rosary while running/walking, but instead just alternate between Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s. Trying to keep track of the Hail Mary I’m on, without the beads, was just too much for me once I moved into my second or third decade.