Notice I didn’t say “training.” Lately, I’ve been learning a lot about the word “EQUIPPING”…

What’s the difference?

Most runners say things like “I’m training for a (insert distance here).” You instantly get a mental picture of weeks, days, and hours logging in mileage and maybe some track and hill work.

But if I said “I’m equipping for my next race,” what would you picture?

Maybe you picture buying equipment such as new gear, energy gels, electrolyte supplements, the latest Garmin watch…

So to simplify, training is the actual physical running whereas equipping is getting the stuff you need to run more effectively.

This morning as I watched the Boston Marathon live feed on my laptop, I couldn’t help but marvel at the men and women in the lead pack consistently putting down five minute mile paces and barely slowing down to re-hydrate. The first time I tried to grab that paper cup of water from a cheering race volunteer then drinking it without slowing down just yielded water up my nose, down my shirt, and barely a drop in my mouth. Then there’s the time I thought I grabbed water to pour over my head on a hot race day, and it turned out to be Gatorade.

I cannot wrap my brain around the type and amount of training that these elite marathoners undergo. I also cannot fathom eating the way (whey…get it?) they eat to maintain that lean muscle mass which is evident in every stride of their 120 pound bodies (average men’s weight). All part of their elite training.

This morning, Ethiopia is proud. They swept the men’s and women’s top finishes in Boston. I love the t-shirt that says “In my dreams, I’m a Kenyan.” Kenyans usually top out the field in all distances. Today was Ethiopia’s day.

Honestly though, I have never actually dreamed of winning ANY race much less Boston. I remember chatting with another runner at a race expo recently. She was sharing how she didn’t have high expectations for a PR since her hamstring injury, so she had only been running 70 miles a week. ONLY. Yeah, at my peak, I was ONLY running 40 miles a week! Funny, even though our training was vastly different, I couldn’t help but notice we had the same Garmin watch, compression socks, Hokas, and favorite GU gel flavors in our arsenal for race day.

Yet she would likely finish her marathon an hour faster. And I was okay with that. She would run her race, and I would run mine.

Next week is the Big Sur Marathon. A bucket list race for many. Dave and I drove the course last year during a weekend trip to Carmel. I see why it’s on many runners’ bucket lists. A world class gorgeous course. And I get to check it off my list next Sunday.

I adjusted my training for this marathon because of the course elevation and a hill called Hurricane Point. But all the other preparation going into this race will be about the same. My equipping has not changed.

Big Sur is a big race; but a bigger, more exciting and fulfilling race lies before me…

I recently enthusiastically accepted the position of principal at Heritage Academy Christian School in my home town of San Ramon. As I look back at the road to this newest “starting line,” I am humbled and gratefully overwhelmed when I think about how God has been preparing me to run this new course.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.”  Psalm 127:3 ESV

If you had told me two years ago that I would leave my beloved third grade classroom and a decade of teaching with some of the best human beings I’ve ever met, that I would leave the school that provided the foundation of Christian education for my own children and has launched so many of my own dreams and passions, that I would join entrepreneurial forces with my husband in opening two new franchise stores in Indiana, and THEN I would be given the incredible opportunity at another Christ-focused school to lead others in what I consider to be life’s greatest calling…

Well, I would have said “You’re dreaming!” Except that dream came true…and in the least expected ways!

As I went through the very thorough and surprisingly enjoyable interview process for this principal position, it was almost surreal. Usually job interviews conjure up at least a tiny bit of anxiety, but I can honestly say that I had complete peace from that first meeting, the all-day campus observations, a comprehensive psychological/leadership assessment, to the final school board interview. All were conducted with hearts of prayer and unified purpose.

I love God’s timing. And process.

Through a Women’s Bible study in February called “Honor’s Reward” (by John Bevere) and a TON of prayer the past two years for direction and clarity on my next assignment, I can now see and more clearly articulate how God had been preparing me and had ALREADY EQUIPPED ME to run this next race at Heritage Academy.

As a quick side note, it’s always fun to hear what tests conclude to be your strengths and gifts. And even areas of weakness. Okay, so you probably never want me working on your car engine, in your research lab, or creating your accounting departments’ spreadsheets. Let’s just mutually agree that this is in everyone’s best interests.

When I think about my current strengths and gifts, they have not changed much since as far back as I can remember. Why does this surprise me? Could it be that we are born already equipped with certain gifts? And that most of our adult lives should be dedicated to using those gifts for their intended God-given purposes? And how do we encourage others to use gifts we see in them but perhaps they don’t see in themselves?

I cringe when I hear well-meaning adults ask little kids “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I realize it’s usually asked in fun and as conversation fodder. But what a loaded question for a five year old if you really think about it. Okay, lighten up, Irene, it’s just for fun! I know, I know. And it is truly inspiring when your little guy wants to be a fireman just like his daddy. Or scientist just like her mommy. Or singer just like her TV idol. Nothing wrong with that…if it happens to be their God-given gift aligned with His intended purposes. Otherwise, they may end up living someone else’s dream.

And that, my friends, is the main point of my blog today:  

To encourage YOU to see how God has equipped you for His purposes! Your race course will change – drastically and/or marvelously – but your equipping will not.

When I’m in my starting corral at Big Sur next Sunday, I probably won’t be thinking about my months of training, carbo-loading, choice of gels or compression socks. I will be wide-eyed with excitement and anticipation of the 26.2 mile journey ahead of me. I will be thanking Jesus for this opportunity and strength to run another race. I will be chatting with other runners about pre-race rituals and sharing favorite race experiences. All will be right in the world.

But I can almost guarantee at Mile 20 that I will start to question my sanity and very existence. It is during those next miles that I will doubt my training and equipping.

The good news is that the most essential training and equipping does not come from pounding the pavement, treadmills, Garmin, or even Hoka. It comes from The One who trains and equips us. Daily. And because He already knows every turn and hill and obstacle on the race course. It comes by His Word and By His Spirit.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17  NIV

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:2-6 NIV

My favorite question from my school board interview was “Describe a race when you relied on Jesus to get you through the toughest part.” My answer:  EVERY. SINGLE. RACE.

Big Sur will be marathon #36 for me. And after that, embarking on my new role as principal at Heritage Academy will be my most exciting race yet…

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6 NASB

“…to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:12-16 NIV