Test Of Faith

It is so easy to praise and thank God when blessings keep pouring on us. We raise our hands in exaltation and dance in jubilation. But when we get caught and swept away by a tsunami, what do we do?

I used to declare that God will certainly not give you a cross you cannot carry. Now at 65, I look back and realize how naive I was.

Sometimes, we are faced with insurmountable problems that we cannot overcome no matter what we do. Even with professional help, the adversities keep coming in bunch. Of course friends and family are always there to comfort us and offer their utmost support but still, we remain stuck in the middle of a quicksand where we could drown anytime soon.

When we are crushed at the bottom of the pit brought about by endless battles we couldn’t win, God is telling us something. “Be still and know that I am God.”

When you have already done everything humanly possible and still failed, surrender everything to God. Trust Him completely and believe in your heart that He is the God of the Impossible. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. He is bigger than all the biggest problems in this world combined.

Yes, sometimes God do give us custom-made crosses that are way too heavy for us to carry. It is during those turbulent times that our faith is put to the ultimate test. Will you grow steadfast in faith and expect a miracle from God with great anticipation OR will you just allow yourself to wallow in self-pity and eventually die of desolation?

Tip # 11: What To Do When You “HIT THE WALL”

You were running like Speedy Gonzales for quite sometime. Then for whatever reason, your legs suddenly acquired a mind of their own. They refuse to move in the direction you want them to go. It felt that your legs were replaced by tons of heavy metal bars tied to a ship. No matter how hard you try, you are stuck in the same place and you cannot forcibly break through the invisible wall that is blocking your path. You tell yourself “I can do this.” But the more you focus yourself on your legs, the heavier they seem to become.

What do you do now aside from taking your favorite energy gel and sports drink?

Focus on something else. Try to pinch some parts of your body so your attention will be diverted to those parts instead of your legs. 

Focus on your surroundings. Inhale. Exhale. Recall the mantra of your yoga coach “calmness in everything.” Pay attention to minute details around you. Admire the flowers, the trees, the grass, the birds, the sky, etc. Forget about your stubborn legs.

Focus on the runners ahead of you. Pick someone whom you want to overtake. Like someone who is bulkier than you but is probably being pushed by his guardian angel to the formidable Finishline. Summon your own guardian angel to carry you. Promise yourself an awesome treat if you succeed in reaching him. When you do, you may go side by side with him or choose someone else to reach. 

Okay. Gotta run now!

Tip # 10: IF YOU CAN STAND, DO NOT SIT

Normally, the Cut-Off time for a marathon is 7 hours. For 50k, 10 hours. For 60k, 14 hours. For 80k, 18 hours. For 100k, it varies from 18 hours to 24 hours.

Whether you work at home or work outside, it would be wise to maximize your time on your feet. Hence, do not sit if you can stand.

My work table is actually a cabinet. I don’t have a chair inside my room. For a while I had one when standing became a challenge for me because of my extra weight and belly fat. Now that I am lighter and slimmer (thanks to my awesome Coach Omar of BetterMe), I am back to my former routine of working while standing. 

To lessen your pain and agony, you may do it gradually starting from just 1 hour of standing, It’s really up to you how much time you will add for every passing day. If your goal is to run the marathon, aim to stand 7 hours a day.

(Thanks for dropping by. You may email me at ndelr62@gmail.com or we can chat via Messenger. Stay safe everyone!

Be A Guardian Angel

Today is the Feast of Guardian Angels. In our family, we pray to our guardian angels everyday. 

Through the course of our lives, we meet people  along the way who are like guardian angels. They mentor us, guide us, protect us, support us. Let us pause for a moment and say a prayer for them. Whether they are still living or went ahead of us, let us be grateful for their thoughtfulness and generosity.

How about paying it forward? Be a guardian angel to someone who needs help. Make a difference in this person’s life. Help him become a better person. I am sure you can think of someone whom you can be a guardian angel to.

God bless you, guardian angels!

You Are Blessed Not Because Of Yourself But Because Of Others

 I don’t exactly remember who said this but I am sure a priest said this in one of his sermons. “You are blessed not because of yourself but because of others.”

This immediately came to mind when I received a forwarded message “Don’t just count your blessings. Be the blessing  other people count on.”

Ever wondered why God did not bless that person directly?  Why would He bless you instead and expect that you will share it with somebody who needs it more than you do? What if you rejected God’s call to be a blessing to others?

God trusts us so much. He assumes that our generosity will triumph over our own selfishness. Let us not disappoint Him. The next time you receive a hefty amount of money, do not hesitate to share it with me heheheh . . .

Tip # 9: From Marathoner To Ultramarathoner

You survived your first marathon. And the second. Followed by a third one. What happens next?

You may race to break your previous records or make an entirely different set of goals.

Like running an ultramarathon.

Crazy, yes—but definitely feasible.

If you have the passion to run longer than 42.195km, then close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale slowly. Exhale slower. Can you imagine yourself crossing the FinishLine of an UltraMarathon race?

Before jumping into serious Ultramarathon training, it would be beneficial if you have already done the following historically:

1. 5k = sub 30 to 32 mins.

2. 10k = sub 1 hr to 70 mins.

3.  16k = sub 2 hrs to 2 hrs

4.  21k = 2.5 to 2.75 hours

5.  32k = 4.5 to 4.8 hours

5. 42k = sub 7 hours

But of course this is just my personal opinion based from my own experience. If you think you’re ready to run the Ultra, then GO FOR IT!

Lastly, I would recommend the Marathon Handbook for training plans and practical tips. 

Good luck! 

Tip # 8: From Runner to Marathoner

Would you believe running the marathon was never in my bucket list? When I was just a newbie runner and often won in my age category, everybody was urging me to level-up to 10k race. I would just brush it off and tell everyone I will only be a 5k runner: no more, no less.

After 6 months of running 5k, no more sweat—literally! I began to question my previous oath and explored the possibility of runnng 10k. And that perceived possibility became a reality. For 1 whole year, I enjoyed the bliss of running 10k until the emergence of TBRDM (The BullRunner Dream Marathon). I signed up without even thinking!  All I wanted was to give my all-out support to my running friend/blogger Jaymie Pizarro who organized the race exclusively for first-time marathoners. It was a complete package of running clinics and trial runs together with the aspiring marathoners.

In preparation for TBRDM, I ran 3 half marathons before the scheduled race. After 2 years of running races, I was among the first participants who courageously attempted to go beyond their limits.

If your ultimate dream is to run the marathon, then prepare for it. There are many training plans online. Pick 1 from RunnersWorld or Marathon Handbook. Join 21k, 25k and 32k races prior to your marathon. Prepare well. If you love your precious life, do not dare run the marathon without a training plan and proper training.

Good luck! If I can do it, you can do it better!

(You may reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)