2018 GA JEWEL 100: Changing The Past with The LORD's Blessing

Photo Credit: Bottom (2016 GJ), Top Right: Jobie Williams

THE REASON

"You can't change the past."

Yes, you can.

You can change the meaning of past failures by not giving up on your dreams.

In fact, the more we desire to grow in character the more evident our failures will be on our way to becoming what we idealize.

And with the help, power and blessing of the Lord, we can make the past mean something different.

Failures do not destroy our dreams unless we decide they have. Failures teach us what we need to know to succeed.

As James Allen said, "Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him to himself."

I finished my third 100 mile run on my second attempt at The Georgia Jewel 100 trail race on Sunday. A race I did not finish (DNF) two years ago dropping at mile 87.

Now, when I read my old race report, history has changed, because I trusted in the LORD to provide.

2016 Georgia Jewel Race Report (DNF, 87 Miles)

Every word in that report means something different now.

2018 TUPELO MARATHON: Lessons Learned From Ahithophel & Buddy Fox

First TVA City

I have a minor, special connection with Tupelo, MS that goes back nearly 20 years. 

Before I attended seminary/preaching school (2000-2002) in Memphis, TN, and before I was married, or had children, or knew any Bible whatsoever, my Mom and I visited the birth and final resting places of Elvis Presley.

Also, my backyard has 3 TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) monster, power towers that support high voltage power lines. Noticing on the sign that Tupelo was the "first TVA city," somewhat endears this race to me.

TVA is a daily part of my life.

Running is also part of my life, but I didn't begin running until the fear of getting old set in while expecting our first child at age 39 seven years ago. My first race was the Running of the Bulls 5K. My longest was Tunnel Hill 100 Miler.

Running has been such a blessing to me, but I didn't feel that way yesterday after 8 am, three hours into my race.

One of the primary appeals of the Tupelo Marathon is its 5 a.m. start time on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend every year. The others are the medal, finisher shirt, air conditioned arena finish with free BBQ. And up until mile 17, all was well. Then the back half of the double loop course felt as terrible as the first loop felt good.

I looked like "E" for the last 9 miles

This wouldn't matter so much if I didn't have a 100 miler in three weeks.

A 100 miler that I DNF'd two years ago, and will probably be my last 100 miler for a long time to come.

So, as I struggled to finish yesterday's marathon and to stay in the moment of only a handful of miles to go, in the forefront of my mind was that if my upcoming hundred miler were yesterday's race, I'd have 83 more miles to go--impossible to do the way I was feeling at the time. 

Needless to say I was overwhelmed by more than just finishing the 26.2.

I knew that I would need to review exactly what I did wrong yesterday, and correct those mistakes, if I plan to have a chance of finishing the 2018 Georgia Jewel, so here they are.

Maybe they will benefit you in some way: