Run Tasha. Run!!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23 NIV

Picture the scene of entering your name to run in an endurance race. You step up to the registration table and they ask you which division “20 miles, 40 miles or 60 miles?”. I do not know about you, but I would know I was at the wrong table if they asked me that. However, I have a niece who recently answered that question with a firm “60 miles please”. I have never been a good runner. Before the knee needed replacing and the fat deposits became too plentiful, I actually used to run. But signing up for a 100 K (over 60 mile) race on purpose? Nope.

Also, the race was called the “Hell Creek Pure Hell”. The course was not flat and long, it was steep and rocky. Seeing pictures of the course I would have a hard time walking it. It is designed to put you through Hell, and to make you quit.

You could track her progress through the course on a link the race provided. My wife stayed up until 3:00 am until it finished. The day ended after 50 miles in around 18 hours of the race that lives up to its name.

Her description of the event: “The second loop (second 20 miles) got a little scary. It was getting hot and I do not like running in the heat. I passed one guy laying under a tree and I had to remind myself that no one was coming to rescue me, so I better get my ass up and keep moving.” Apparently, they just let you die where you fall.

Tasha told me she trains 8 to 10 hours per week with as high as 35 miles per week. She said she would train more but “Kids and work take up time.” She has a high demand job and all kids are high demand. She has two of the cutest you may see and they are not second level to her training. They come first. But in her description of the day she added “thank you to her mom and dad for crewing for me so Josh (her husband) could take Sophia (their daughter) to play in her last football game.” Think about that sentence, those kids are learning.

I asked her if I could write about it for a couple of reasons. First, I’m proud of her. Who in the world does this? Secondly, I wanted to present a picture of what devotion looks like. I think I am devoted to my family. Do I give them 35 mile a week effort? I think I work hard. Do I work until I drop to my knees?

I think I am devoted as a follower of Jesus Christ. Am I devoted enough for the 60 mile course? Tasha told me that one of her biggest rewards is the mental endurance and grit. Talking to her you do not get grit and badass impressions, but there is a fighter in there. My faith walk often asks me for endurance and grit. So does yours. Life seems like Hell Creek sometimes.

She told me that she is aware of the example it sets for her kids, that hard work and perseverance make big goals possible. I think society in general is confused by this concept. I think we think that any work and any effort guarantee our results. That is not true. Hard work and effort give you a chance, but we are guaranteed nothing.

Ask any parent up for the 75th straight night with a child who won’t sleep. Effort guarantees you nothing, while lack of effort guarantees exactly what it has earned. The biggest sacrifice she mentioned is clearly the time. She said she feels like she is always dropping the ball somewhere. I think that every mom who has ever answered that question would say they are not good enough at the very thing that makes them the most amazing. I would also guess those big beautiful eyes she calls son and daughter are learning plenty about effort, about what it means to actually be devoted to something.

What is the biggest challenge you face?

Are you training in the right discipline? A physical battle requires physical and mental training. Wanting it only inspires it. You have to do the work. A spiritual battle requires spiritual training. You have to train through the Word, or through conversation with the Creator.

Challenge: Don’t stop. Don’t fall down, the world won’t pick you up. But your Savior is devoted enough to you to not let you die where you fall. He already beat Hell Creek for you.

Rick Claiborn