Years ago while training for a half marathon, I heard often about the “runners high.” It’s the experience that many in the world of long-distance running have when the prefrontal and limbic regions of the brain spew out endorphins, a God-given hormone that masks pain or discomfort, and allows the athlete to feel more relaxed and euphoric when their physical body is being pushed. I believed in the phenomenon, I desired to experience this relief, and yet it took months before I was able to personally profess this sensation. Come to find out, research suggests that there is a sweet spot where one’s pace isn’t easy nor is it gut-busting. Sauntering too casually won’t produce enough discomfort to trigger a rush. Pushing too aggressively will overwhelm you past the point of being able to feel good. Finding the sweet spot is necessary in order to achieve relief. As the world continues to settle into new routines in the context of COVID-19, I am reminded and challenged to find my sweet spot in the midst of this crisis. Keeping in mind that this is a marathon, not a sprint, I have reflected on three specific areas to help us process our new circumstances: personal characteristics that preamble success, spiritual disciplines and habits that affect long-term change, and contrasting sprinter versus marathon perspectives toward daily life.
As I reflect on what it looks like to successfully complete a marathon-like race in life, I sought out data that revealed the character traits of marathon finishers and non-finishers. In short, the findings identified one characteristic that stood out: steadfastness.
Miriam-Webster defines steadfastness as “firm in belief, determination, or adherence.” Said in another way, steadfastness is dedicating and committing oneself to the task at hand. In the context of COVID-19, one helpful functional tool to develop is to learn to “live life backward.” Athletes are trained to visualize meeting milestones, both short-term and long-term. Sports psychologist, Dave Caldwell, theorizes “if you are able to imagine yourself meeting your goals, you can silence the devil (negative self-talk) no matter the level of discomfort you experience.” This principle is Ecclesiastical, one designed to change your perspective by learning to live today in light of the end. Knowing that the COVID-19 crisis will eventually end, working backward from that point into all of the details, decisions, and attitudes of our lives today helps us determine a realistic, maintainable stride for daily life.
In the same vein, we call upon spiritual disciplines or daily habits as a means toward the desired end. John Mark Comer offers a standard definition of discipline as “any activity I can do by direct effort that will eventually enable me to do that which, currently, I cannot do by direct effort.” For example, a student in Strength & Agility may want to bench press a certain weight but can’t. Comer contends that they don’t yet have the power or the muscle to do so. It’s not that they can’t, it’s that they cannot do it yet. They need access to more power through the discipline of regular training, and in the end, they become the person who can do something they couldn’t previously do. The process and the principle are similar to spiritual disciplines, but with the nuance of drawing on the Holy Spirit’s power in addition to our own commitment. As we follow the core practices of Jesus himself: quiet time to pray, reading our Bibles, living in isolated-community, practicing Sabbath, and tithing, we are drawing on supernatural strength to help us cope and enable us to sit with suffering for a bit. Also, developing strategies to weather the storm and emerge with a stronger resilience, renewed relationships, and a regenerated appreciation for life.
As we enter into the 4th week of social distancing, it's likely that you are already realizing that running a marathon feels and looks very different than sprinting a race. While relentless work is noble and understandable (especially in western culture), it is not sustainable. It’s interesting to note that at their peak, distance runners have a significantly higher cardiac index than sprinters. Meaning that at the peak point of a race, the distance runners experience more efficient pumping action and increased cardiac output due to their specific type of training. During a sprint, adrenaline keeps the runner going, there is legitimate urgency, and everyone around them is running at full speed. This environment is not true for the distance runner where pace and rhythm are necessities and the goal is to remain in a comfortable aerobic zone. And so it is with us during this time when the end to our current crisis is unclear. May we seek inspiration from Jesus who steadfastly lived one day at a time, remaining in a comfortable measured zone that allowed him to be present and aware of each moment and the opportunities that might be part of it.
In summary, as you move forward into the first few miles of this COVID-19 marathon, I encourage you to seek to find your sweet spot. First, determine to work backward living life today in light of the end. Second, do this by committing to regular spiritual disciplines to keep you grounded and stable. Third, function practically at a sustainable pace. May each of us be very present in each day of this pandemic, intentionally seeking to make each mile matter. This season is a historical event that cannot be rewritten. Prepare today the narrative that you will share with future generations about the One who is faithful and steadfast to those who call upon His name.
Written by Amy Florell, Strength and Agility Teacher
Photography by Khloe Begg, ICS HS Junior
