Over the years, I’ve tried a variety of training plans for a variety of goals. The first time through each plan seems like an experiment and I constantly wonder if the plan will work. I’m glad to report that Couch to 5k, Hal Higdon’s Marathon, a slower version of Roch Frey’s 10k plan, Hal’s Advanced 8k plan, and the Hanson Marathon Method have all worked out well. The Hanson Method gave me my fastest marathon time even though I skipped one workout a week. I’d try it again and do all the workouts but lately, I’ve been having fun with shorter races. So far, Hal’s Advanced 8k plan has been my very favorite plan and given me my fastest 4 and 5 mile times. Being over 40 and nearing my high school track and cross country times is a thrill! It’s great to know a plan works since that confidence keeps the motivation going during the tougher workouts and helps you set good goals on race day. Overall, I’ve found that the more “smart” training you do, the faster or farther you can go.

Smart training is a plan set up with a challenging mix of hard days and easy days. Sadly, I have also tried my own crazy plan of just running as fast as possible almost every day but I actually became slower! While simply running faster sounded good to the speed-crazed gal who’d taken over my healthy hobby, it wasn’t smart.

In a similar way, the Christian life follows a plan. It’s a custom plan created by the One who knows and created us. As in my running, there was a time when I tried following my own spiritual plan as well and I have to say, it worked out about the same. Believing God would weigh all my good deeds against my bad deeds to see if I made the cut into heaven, I feared I wasn’t going to be good enough. That kind of fear has no place in a healthy spiritual life and, as with my running plan, my own spiritual plan took me far from my goal. Trying to work my own way into heaven ended up being the opposite of the plan that is in the Bible. At that point, I hadn’t studied the Bible but when I did, I found that God’s plan says Christ already did all the hard work for me. I just needed to trust the Bible and when I did, like a proven training plan, it was encouraging and has kept me motivated ever since.

Trusting God’s plan is also a little like that week before a big race when the hard work is done and you can enjoy the confidence of knowing you are ready. You can’t cram for a race the week before and if you’ve followed the plan, you are ready — no worries. I guess you could get sick or twist your ankle in a gopher hole but, overall, it’s time to relax and it almost feels like someone else did all those intervals, weights, tempo runs, and race-pace days. To become strong, and equipped, and so different from what you were before training is like looking back on someone else. While you’re in the middle of a harsh workout, remember how amazing race week feels when you’re well prepared.

Trust the plan, work it out, and enjoy what’s done. Then go run an awesome race!

Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.