What's So Good About Morning?

Vikki is starting the last 30 days of training for her second successive Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7.  She is chronicling those last days by reflecting on the music playlist she has compiled to encourage her while she runs which we call Chicago Marathon ( VikkiThon) on our YouTube Channel .  

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I am not a morning person.  My husband is. Even when I arise before he does, he manages to be awake before I am.
​ I do not function until coffee.  To my husband, coffee merely expedites his pre-dawn functions.

 Michael is the kind of morning person who not only arises early, he speaks early, carries on dissertations, verbalizes op-ed opinion pieces or sermonettes before sunrise, often finishing with, "What do you think?"  (Another chapter from the “Things They Don’t Tell You Before Marriage” Dept.)

There is, however, one thing I do (to my knowledge) that throws off his morning routine.  When my phone alarm goes off.  Usually it’s a ringtone from my playlist; often at the crescendo of a song blaring like reveille (a remnant from my Army brat upbringing).  A song I’ve sometimes used is Mary, Mary’s “Get Up!”

Get Up:  The Lyrics 

Vikki, It's Cold Outside

Despite its eruption, I confess I’m often able to hit the snooze and return to snooze myself.  It takes three such snooze exchanges before their joyful salutations bring a bark from Mr. Grumpy beside me and I arise.
I admit, too, there are days – like this morning – where even the sunshine of “Get Up” makes Mr. Grumpy and me a perfect match.  When we left at 5:20 AM to drive to the course for the 6 AM training run with my coach, Jules Burke, it was drizzling, making the normally, runners-temperate 69 degrees uncomfortably chilly . 

(How important is this note?  As they walked from the parking lot to meet me, Jules, a passionate cold-weather runner, told Michael, who shivers at 75, “When I ran my first Egg Shell (Half-Marathon), it was 29 degrees," followed by the first thing we said to each other, almost in girlfriend unison, "Gee, it's chilly.")

 We were only going to run an hour – five miles roughly – but by the time we started, the drizzle had become steadier and colder.  I was rather contrary about Mary, Mary.

But the driving rain drove us.  Though drenched an hour later, Jules and I were focused and steady as we seldom are collectively.  It’s not unusual for either of us to discover an ache or mental distraction along the way.  We may feel compelled to walk, or slow, or stop. 

It's hard to tell sometimes what's the greatest obstacle: the physical or the mental.  It was a short run, sure, but, pressing on, my times even for that distance showed encouraging consistency that's been missing as I've trained throughout the summer. 

​ I was more impressed with Jules…she ran without music.

Get Up!

Two set of  sets of music ran through my head. 

​From my headphones came the recurring verse of “Get Up,” easing into the chorus:
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“What are you afraid of?
Don't you know what you're made of?
One of God's greatest creations
Take this invitation now”

In my HEAD, between songs, I heard the unrecorded words of a standard hymn, written almost a century ago: “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”  

Lyrics of Lamentation

Chronicling challenged financially despite his commitment to ministry, poet Thomas Chisholm was taking stock of his bank books one day and was inspired by Jeremiah’s writing in Lamentations. 

Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Great Is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see;

Great Is Thy Faithfulness:  Story Behind the Hymn 

While running, especially on a trail in the woods or along a riverbank as we did today, I have much time to reflect on God’s mercies and provision. 

​ Though hard, when I’m compelled to get up, I’m more appreciative of how He has wonderfully created us to be fearless in times of storm…or steady rain.  I recognize, when physically or mentally I don’t feel like running (or working) He has provided “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” in the face of the work or school schedule before me after hitting snooze the last time, or in the face of Mr. Grumpy, the morning person, who greets me with a smile and fresh cup of coffee after I run.

Run The Marathon with Vikki

Vikki is looking to like-minded friends and artists to run the Chicago Marathon with her.  You can do so without leaving  where you are now.  How?

1)  Vikki's run of 26.2 miles will take over four hours.  She'd like more songs and is open to suggestions, especially original tunes that might be propelling and encouraging for a run.  If you're an artist, please email Vikki a suggestion "church song" or "pop song" (any genre), or comment below.

2) Vikki is running to raise support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Each day she makes progress toward her goal of $2900.  Please consider donating.  Follow this link to do so and learn more.