Tennis Shoes and Temples

I started running November 19, 2012.
I was slower than cold molasses.  I thought I might possibly die.

But I didn't die.
I kept running.
By December 18th my time had improved by leaps and bounds.
I was running 3+ miles a day at an elevation gain of 130 ft.
having shaved 2 minutes off per mile.
That day I broke my personal record in the 1/2 mile, the 1k and 1 mile.

I was better able to handle stress.
My everyday anxieties had disappeared.
I was a nicer, happier, more content mother and wife.
And my bum was getting smaller.

On December 20th I started getting pain in my ankle
so I did what every wise woman would do
and went running, sledding and ice skating.
Severe posterior tibial tendonitis took me out of the game
for the next 6 weeks making it difficult to even walk.

I went into a funk,
fought depression,
went stir crazy,
then gave into my new sedentary routine.

When I could finally start running again
I didn't.

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September 2005.
My youngest was a year old
and with the newfound energy from a full nights sleep
I made a personal commitment to attend the temple weekly.

Late nights, snowstorms, summer breaks, vacations.
Nothing could deter me.
On the rare occasion that I was unable to attend
I would often go twice the following week.
For 7 years this lasted.

It became easier to have an eternal perspective,
easier to bare my burdens,
easier to be nearer God.

This January was busy
with life.
And the temple was closed for a couple weeks in February
for cleaning.
And then I was sick.
And then
and then
and then.

_____________________________________________________________

I went to the temple this morning.
I had a difficult time concentrating,
a hard time keeping my mind on the things at hand.
I thought about how long and how hard I had worked
at training myself to be still and feel God's spirit.
I was out of practice.

After returning home I went for a run.
A lousy 2.2 miles with a weak 47 foot elevation gain.
I had to walk part of the way when I'd come uncomfortably close to vomiting.

I'll get it all back
over time

but I think where I'd be

if I hadn't quite in the first place

and I'm disappointed in myself.

Newly committed,

"Fall seven times, get up eight."
Japanese Proverb