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| At the 16km point 2017 Lagos City Marathon |
Lesson 2
You reap what you sow
Whilst preparing for the Lagos City Marathon, I ran most mornings and every Saturday I did a long run that was usually not less 21kms. I was preparing my body for the gruelling task of running 42.5kms. I trained once a day and at least five times a week. On the day of the marathon, many came out to run without an inkling of the discipline, training or state of mind required for a marathon.
Some fainted, others got injured and some just boarded the BRT buses provided by the Lagos State Government to get to the finish line. Some also came out more prepared and physically ready than I was and you could tell from the time it took for them to finish. I attempted the 2016 Marathon but could only get to the 18km mark due an injury I sustained while training. I wasn't ready for the marathon and with hindsight I am grateful I gave it a go, as the experience of 2016, helped me avoid injury while training and prepare better for 2017.
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| With Taiwo, Subomi, Biola and Seun (LereRuns team 2016 Lagos City Marathon) |
Same thing applies in life! You are only as good as your preparation. While you run your race of life, you must take time to equip yourself to be the best in whatever you do. This can only be achieved through discipline, training, learning and a positive attitude. Do not take any opportunity to learn for granted. What you don’t know becomes older than you. It is the things, skills or competencies you learn and retain in your spirit man that come to your aid in the day of trouble. So get knowledge, get prepared so when the opportunity comes you can grab it with both hands. Time and chance becomes relevant for the prepared person. If you fail to achieve your purpose in this life, you can only blame one person and that is YOU! Have the attitude that no one owes you anything, remove the thinking or attitude of self entitlement and push yourself to be the fearful and wonderfully made person that God created. Sow seeds of hard work, dedication, excellence, integrity and good character and your race will yet become easier.
Lesson 3
Yes you can
Sometimes we face challenges in life that seem insurmountable and some just give up. At the 35kms mark it seemed like my body couldn’t take the effect of the marathon anymore but I was determined to finish the race even if it meant crawling to the finish line. Just like David did in I Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. I encouraged myself, I pushed my body as much as I could, when I couldn't run anymore, I walked, knowing that each step brought me closer to the finish line.
You need to face life’s challenges with an attitude of yes I can. Defeat starts in the mind. Once you decide you cannot pass that exam, get that promotion, win that contract, woo that sister, then you automatically stop giving your best towards that issue. Proverbs 23:7A “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”. When the challenge looks difficult, remember you serve a God that makes a way where there seems to be no way. That is the time to activate your faith and declare that you can, by the grace you have received. That is the time to push forward knowing that the Almighty God is behind you.
When you have done all, you too like Paul can say:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 2 Timothy 4:7-9 KJV
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with Bovi at the 2017 finish line don't ask me if he ran
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Bishop Sam Chidoka
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