Say what? He was referring to the problems runners experience when one group of muscles is stronger than their opposing ones – typically quadriceps and hamstrings.

Last night’s Run for God Run Club live topic was “Runner’s Knee,” so why were we talking about quads and hammies? First off, props to Coach Dean Thompson for giving one of the best, practical, relatable explanations of what is this infamous runner’s knee and what causes it. Basically, your knees are just along for the ride, but how enjoyable that ride will be depends on the balanced strength of surrounding muscles. *My neanderthal summation. Sorry, Dean.

I spent the second half of 2019 running and racing in a knee brace after some brutal descents from Mt. Diablo 50K in April. It was the same knee brace I wore in my very first marathon – the 2009 San Francisco Marathon. I assumed the weeks of IT Band pain leading up to the race was from newbie over training. But after last night’s discussion, I think it was a classic case of ignoring strength training. Squats? No thank you. Let’s face it – I’m a cardio junkie. In my defense, I had no idea the importance of gradually building up all those muscle groups and the pitfalls of unbalanced training. Yes, I had very chiseled enviable calves for days and never had issues with quads or hamstrings until about two months into marathon training. Wait, what? I thought I was supposed to do the Forrest Gump thing and just run for a very long time. Isn’t that how everyone trains for a marathon?

I should’ve known something was up when I had no problem passing runners on steep climbs but eating their dust on the downhills. Downhill running used to be fun. I used to look forward to reaching the tops of hills so I could barrel down the other side at breakneck speed. But now it just hurts. Grimacing pain. The price of ignoring weak quads. I think I actually heard my hamstrings laughing at my quads and saying “Now let’s get you back to level ground where you belong.”

It’s taken over a decade for this poignant lesson to come full circle: “Opposing muscles can cause problems.” The moment those words left Coach Dean’s lips, I knew it was no longer about running for me. It was about a verse God used back in 2008 to propel me into not only a healthier lifestyle but a lifelong pursuit of living out these words on and off the race course:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 NIV

Four ways to love God. Four avenues for God to reach us. Four muscles for God to build in us to accomplish His purposes. Four radio stations for God to speak to us. But what happens when I don’t like the station I’m on? Can I just push a button or say “Hey, Alexa, change the channel!” God wants all of us – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sometimes we want only certain aspects of Him.

I have been guilty of resting my laurels on those areas in my life I feel strongest. Ironic that these areas are ones God has shown up big time and situations He has graciously and often mercifully stepped in to literally save the day. Satan can see how I take pride in the very strengths aka “muscles” God has developed in me over time. In fact, he banks on it – my pride. So much so that he has been known to very intentionally set up camp right next to that muscle. Tucked away inconspicuously so I might not even notice…until an old wound resurfaces causing me to question if God can really handle this next set of challenges.

Back to that verse…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Consider each – heart, soul, mind, strength – like legs of a table. We all know what happens when any one leg is shorter. At best, it’s an annoying minor inconvenience. But how frustrated would you be if your IKEA box was missing a table leg? Not that this has ever happened – I love IKEA.

God showed me back in 2008 how my perspective of Him and daily walk with Him was off balance. Yes, like a table with uneven legs. Up until then, I thought it was enough to spend a few minutes reading my Bible a couple of times a week, to pray for family and friends, to turn up the volume when my favorite worship song came on, and to even to be a church and Bible study leader. Deep down, in my soul you could say, I knew something was off. Why was I tired all the time? *No medical issues. Why was I quick tempered with family and friends? Or worse – apathetic. Why did prayer feel so dry and obligatory?

My opposing muscle was causing problems.

Strength as a leader overshadowed personal problems. It’s somehow easier to overcompensate and pour out all your heart and strength into areas you excel to the detriment of areas in your life crying out in pain. My table was off balance. Shorter, weaker legs needed to be strengthened.

I’m not gonna claim that running was the answer. I’m just gonna say that twelve years ago, God opened that door to bring balance and health to my life as well as build a platform for me to later speak about the parallel between faith and endurance.

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV