I tightened the laces on my running shoes, assessing which training run I’d be completing. The weather has been giving more than enough reasons to be outside, run, ride, and rope. I forget how enjoyable the fall is in Nebraska until it gets here. October 17 is the Market to Market race, and I’ve got 12.6 miles to complete for my team. As I looked at the mileage options, the weather, and what else was on my list of things to do this week, my mind shifted from the regularly scheduled program run, to doing the hard thing. Instead of resting after a build up of distance runs, I could feel it in my bones: today, I’m going to run the12.6 mile race as I will on race day.

Part of me knew that if my legs felt good today, it wouldn’t give myself an opportunity to be sore and attempt the run later in the week, or leave it undone. The weather showed no fierce winds, only a light breeze, and some heat, and nothing reminiscing of the humid heat from July. Mentally and environmentally, it was the day to do the hard thing. Why put it off?

The crinkled leaves on the pavement crunched under my shoes, and the coolness of the fall morning confirmed my decision. Today was a good day to run. Although I didn’t love the snakes lurking about for some sun, I kept focused on the road right in front of me, rather than far beyond me. Where is the next point my foot needs to land?

Mentally, I sometimes struggle with the focus on one foot in front of the other rather than making it to the next tree, or around the bend. Those focal points far off in the distance give me some sort of confidence that I have less to go, and I’ve done more than just take another step. But I knew the focus I needed to have, not just on this training day, but in the month ahead. My mock race was symbolic of the month of October schedule, full of flights, grueling schedules, and multiple changes of zip codes.

The week I ran my mock race was my last week in O’Neill. It was bittersweet, leaving the community and friends that became summer family in a short period of time. No one asked them to let me take part in this small, sandy, rural town, but they did. And I’m forever grateful for the memories, the growth, and the landing place it’s been for me.

The mock race day encouraged me for the weeks ahead. Although my body and mind have been craving slowing down, this month is not going to be that. It’s going to be about finding pace, settling in, and putting one foot in front of the other.

I think God delights in these seasons. The seasons where we know a shift is coming, we can’t quite see the full picture, but we know it requires a step. With every step, we get down the road, unwinding and unveiling His purpose, His plans, and His calling. Sure, there’s something grandiose about the cadence of wham, miracle and prayer answered; ok, onto the next. I don’t know about you, but my life has rarely been that. It’s been more of a culmination of one foot in front of the other. At times the road has been easily revealed, and others, well, I maybe needed a gentle nudge, or a gusty wind to push me in the right direction.

The wind has changed, but there’s still importance in what I’ve been walking out. Still figuring what it all means, but I know that the humbling of the summer was a big piece of it. I wasn’t as mentally stable as I thought I was. The grind broke me down more than I thought it would. I needed to be humbled. As much as I can pray prayers of humility, I didn’t really want to be humbled, if I’m honest. Maybe I needed to be humbled for this next wind of faith to move me?

Often times, God has given me a test, or a “mock-race” if you will, before He sends me into the real thing. The thing is, we don’t always know what the mock race is for or about until we go through the real thing and realize that maybe this is what all the testing was about. Some tests I think I passed; others I know I failed. But I know a bigger test is coming.

God already knows what’s going to happen, but the test reveals to us where the short comings are, where I’m blind, and where I need to be humbled. How can this be faith building? It is because you know it’s not about you; it’s about Him. And He wouldn’t be putting you through these faith building situations if He didn’t have a great purpose for it.

The wind changed directions and changed me; changed me so I can be ready for this next season, equipped with the grace to carry it. No doubt there is going to be another test, another humbling, but there’s a part of the race I’ve got to run. My goal is to finish this season well so the next season can have its full effect. One foot in front of the other, no matter what it feels like, or what my eyes see. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Maybe your wind has changed, or you’re still finishing out this season. Lace up your shoes, don’t put off the hard things, and keep in mind, it’s one step at a time. Next post, I’ll let you know how the real race day went!