Lessons From My First Half Marathon – by Brad Wilcox

Most of you probably know Brad Wilcox.

He is a professor at BYU, an author of several books and a popular speaker.  His latest book is The Continuous Atonement, and is definitely on my Christmas wish list.

Before you read his article, let me give you a little seminary, Family Home Evening, Young Men or Young Women, or just personal idea:

Using the same kind of pattern in Brother Wilcox’s article, take an event in your life and make a list of things you learned from that life event.  After everyone has some time to write, then have everyone share what they wrote.  I would love to sit in a lesson like this.

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Lessons From My First Half Marathon

Brad Wilcox

            We did it!  This morning Russell, Trish, Whitney, and I ran the Utah Valley Half Marathon.  It started in Provo Canyon just above the turn off to Sundance and ended at the tabernacle-soon-to-be temple.  We got up at 3:00 am, loaded our bus about 4:00, and started our race at 6:00 along with 3,000 others.  For many it was obviously just one more run in a lifetime full of them.  For me it was a turning point, a milestone, a first.  I am 52.  I finally broke 200 and weigh 198 lbs—lowest I have been in almost 10 years.  I finished 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 46 minutes, and I ran the whole way.  A few thoughts:

 

• Change is never easy.  This journey began 2 ½ years ago.

 

• True change is a spiritual quest as well as a physical one.  No wonder it alludes so many.

 

• Never underestimate the power of positive role models.  Thanks Elder Ringwood, Elder

Bednar, Sister Dalton, and Laurel Christensen.

 

• Change is impossible unless you reach out and receive help.  Thanks Cody.

 

• I don’t think we probably slept too well on the night before we came to earth.

 

• There is great motivation in running together and not alone.

 

• It’s discouraging to have 3,000 people pass you.

 

• Friends can be found along any journey.  Thanks to the encouraging fireman who ran at about my

same pace the whole way.  Thanks to the tall runner who patted my shoulder at the mouth

of the canyon and the EFY kids who honked and cheered in cars along University.

 

• The greatest temptation to give up comes when you are running a distance you have never run

before.  Miles 12 and 13 were killers.

 

• Music helps.

 

• Nothing feels better than seeing family at the finish line.  All I wanted was to see and hold my

Debi.  Thanks Robin for watching the grandkids so she could be there.

 

• I hope one of the first things we are allowed to do when we die is take a long nap and enjoy a hot

shower.

 

• This will not be the last time I do this.  This is not an event.  It is a lifestyle.

 

• There is a powerful bond felt by those who do difficult and important things together.  I felt it in

the mission.  I felt it at the Time Out for Women in Australia and New Zealand.  Today I

felt it with my kids.  I’ll never forget gathering Russell, Trish, and Whitney into our

sweaty group hug.  We were a great team.