As a runner, I know all too well the struggles and triumphs
that come with running. Some days, you hit a perfect stride and can run for 60+
minutes. Other days, you hit the first mile and your legs already feel like bricks.
I’ve been a competitive runner for nearly eight years now. I always have and
always will enjoy running, but one other constant remains: it’s never
consistently easy. The mental battle just to lace up my shoes has single-handedly
kept me off the roads countless times. But there’s a great beauty that comes
with running, too. Whether you’re running sub-16 5K’s or just putting in a
daily mile at the track, everyone has a different reason why they run. My
answer has varied and, at times, included a dozen answers, but the last few
years, one reason I love running has stood above all else: running and prayer
are coequal in a multitude of ways and, to an extent, are interchangeable.
Pacing
Anyone who has ever started up running knows you don’t try
to run 6 miles on day one. The first time I started running, I made it about a
half mile before I had to walk. Biting off more than you can chew from the
beginning is a great way to crush any motivation you have to continue running. Not
to mention, setting goals too high early on can lead to a lot of
walk-jogging, which is not conducive to competitive running. Whether you’re
focused on pace or distance, you have to build it up over time. The same
applies to time in prayer. Chances are, if you jump right into morning prayer
followed by a holy hour and daily Mass, you’re either going to exhaust yourself
or you’re going to be distracted and not completely focused on our Lord. This
isn’t always the case, however, so don’t think you’re overdoing it if Christ is
moving in your prayer. But, in my experience, you have to build up to more over
time.
Discipline
This one is pivotal. Without discipline, both running and
prayer fall apart. I already mentioned the number of times the mental battle to
run has prevented numerous runs over the years. Taking a day off from running
isn’t necessarily bad, especially when your body needs it, but don’t confuse
needing rest and lacking discipline. The difference is the latter can keep you
off the road for days, weeks, and months at a time. This can cause a vicious
cycle as you try to get back into running shape again. The best way to make
running “easy” is to continue. When it comes to prayer, I have found discipline
and prayer to relate directly. When my prayer life is undisciplined, it becomes
dry and my relationship with Christ crumbles. Not because He has failed me, but
because I lacked self-control to pray fervently and frequently. Similarly, when
my prayer life lacks discipline and I distance myself from God, I find it much
more difficult to convince myself that an hour of running is worth it. Conversely,
when I talk myself out of my daily run, it become much easier to become lazy
and slack off when it comes to prayer.
Perseverance
Nothing in the world can feel more frustrating and deflating
than getting to the fifth mile of an eight mile run and hitting a wall. All you
can do is grind it out for the last four. Then, you get to come back the next
day and do it all over again. Granted, not every day brings about a struggle,
but it can and does happen. The best runners understand that those times are
where improvements are made, but only when you endure the difficulty. Likewise,
prayer has its peaks and valleys which require unfailing faith and a commitment
to pray even when things aren’t going so well. Similar to discipline, there is
a direct correlation between running, prayer, and perseverance. From my
experience, the majority of running is mental rather than physical. Our bodies
can achieve things we never thought possible, but only if our minds will allow
it. Training your mind to stop when running gets difficult can very easily
spill over into our prayer. As soon as we become distracted or tired of waiting
for the Lord to speak to us, we’ll have taught ourselves to walk away.
Run is life; prayer
is life
If you’re training for weekend 5K’s, I’m willing to bet you
don’t just roll out of bed on Saturday morning having no prior training. Competitive
running requires daily training, sometimes even twice daily. Moreover, a poor
training diet will greatly diminish your end results. The greatest achievements
in running come to those who eat, sleep, and breathe running and all that it
entails. Being nominally Christian or Catholic (Christian/Catholic by name, but
only on Sundays) will hinder your faith and prayer life as well. Showing up on
Sunday for an hour does not count as having a prayer life. Being a Christian isn’t
an asset or a résumé builder; it’s a way of life. If you are truly convicted in
your faith and belief in Jesus Christ, your life should be molded to fit Him
in, not the other way around. You’ll never hear of a saint who only prayed on
Sundays, just like you’ll never hear of a Boston Marathon winner who only ran
on Sundays.
It’s always better
when you share it
This is arguable one of my favorite part about being a
Catholic who happens to also run: they’re communal. Yes, they can and should
include personal time as well, but there’s so much joy in running with a good
friend or praying with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Without this, we’d
have no one with which to share our struggles and triumphs. Additionally, it’s
these relationships which challenge us to take the next step. When I see/hear
one of my old high school teammates having success post-college, it motivates
me in a positive way to get back into shape or push myself to improve my times.
When I see/hear a brother or sister having a spiritual triumph, their witness
inspires me to continue fighting my daily battles with certain sins. We are all
one body in Christ. To that end, we support each other during the tough times
and rejoice in each other’s victories.
Honoring Him who loves us
Last but certainly not least, running is an opportunity both to honor God with the body He gave us and to be in communion with Him. As a college student, I know how difficult maintaining a regular routine of prayer can be. That is precisely why my love for running has grown over the years. Running always used to be a quiet time of personal reflection. It was an opportunity to think about school, family, friends, and responsibilities without being stressed. Little did I know at the time, I was in essence praying to God. Prayer doesn't need to be a theological masterpiece. Conversation with Christ: The Teaching of St. Teresa of Avila about Personal Prayer hits on this exact point when it emphasizes on the very first page that "mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate friendship". Simply, prayer is a friendly conversation with Jesus Christ. This includes petitions, personal worries, adoration of Christ, thanksgiving, and so much more. Running is the perfect opportunity to give Him praise in our fast-paced society. During the last year or so, I've slowly begun to ditch the headphones and iPhone completely on my runs in favor of mental prayer.
