Pace Yourself
Updated: May 19, 2021
“Tell Juli to pace herself.”
“Wait! What? We are running five miles for the warm-up today?” I remember saying that very statement out loud during our track team practice.
I was a middle distance runner on the track team in high school. I really wasn’t the best runner, but I tried my best and would have enjoyed the track team much more if we could have just talked all day rather than practiced!
When I tried to hang out with my younger sister on the long distance team, that first five-mile warm-up made me sick to my stomach. I only ran those long distances with her for a short time, but I do remember how good it felt to hear the shouts and applause of teammates at the finish line. I knew what it was to pace myself like a long distance runner. I just did not like it.
My older sister was a sprinting goddess whose dust I ate during every practice. I used to sit in awe as she finished her races ahead of the best athletes. I just tried to stay on the relay teams and not embarrass myself.
Many years later, when my mom asked a dear friend of hers what advice she had for me as I cared for Robert, her only counsel was, “Tell Juli to pace herself.” This friend had cared for a loved one with a disability for many years, and she knew that my stretch on this road could be very long.
Some moms are invited on the fast sprinters’ team; some run among the middle-distance runners, passing the baton from one team member to the next. And some moms run alone on winding paths, acutely aware of the nauseating feelings along the way that make you want to quit. I started out sprinting with my ambitious thoughts of curing and “fixing” Robert. Then I learned how to run on the relay teams of moms passing the baton of information from my hand to the next hand. But, ultimately, I learned to pace myself in the lonely, long distance run of my life. I was blessed by the sideline cheering that always gave me encouragement to keep running.
I grew weary, at times, because my body ached from the length of the path, and I wanted to sprint sometimes just to finish the race. My mind may have wanted to sprint, but there was no way my body could do anything but keep the steady pace and accept the hills and valleys as they came.
Like I said, I was not a great runner. But I did my best. And you will, too. Pace yourself.
Listening Library: Take My Life (Cindy Morgan)
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV)
Take My Life
Who can say when life is over The silver cord breaks and our breath returns to God Will we walk through fields of clover Or soar up high through valleys deep and wide
I cannot know all that's waiting there But until that day this is my prayer Oh yes
Take my life Take away all the shattered dreams in me And give me love that will last forever
Take my life Give me the love that makes me free 'Cause I believe that Your love can save even a wretch like me
This race is not just for the runners Some of us walk while others barely crawl, hey We make our way through spring and winter Leaning on the strength that strengthens all, oh
And when the sunlight fades to morning You'll still be burning in my eyes Oh yes
Take my life Take away all the shattered dreams in me Give me love that will last forever
Take my life Give me the love that makes me free 'Cause I believe that Your love can save even a wretch like me
Oh yeah Oh yeah
And when the sunlight fades to morning, oh You'll still be burning in my eyes Oh yes
Take my life Take away all the shattered dreams in me And give me love that will last forever
Take my life Give me the love that makes me free 'Cause I believe that Your love can save even a wretch like me
Written by Cindy Morgan, Cindy Lavonne Morgan • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
