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Trail Fails

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As I ran on the treadmill learning about trail running, I was encouraged on my Nike Run Club guided run to turn off my music and listen to the environment instead of Drake. Due to the strenuous obstacles one can face on trail runs, it was suggested, that I focus on the trail ahead with little distractions. I of course was on a treadmill so I continued to listen to my Spotify playlist while watching Drone TV portraying motorcyclists, skateboarders, wakeboarders, and skiers top out at their peak performances. I kept trudging away at my pace of 11.30 which I determined would not qualify me for a NYC marathon but I stayed on task as to my goal of running for 40 minutes.

As my coach spoke to me about the dangers of trail running and watching the trail at all times for any shift in sediment, loose brush, or rocks, I began working on the focus of running and looking to the path ahead. Proverbs 4:25 warns "Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life's distractions." "Watch where you're going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you." "Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness". 

I wonder if Solomon was trail running, but I think about how many times in my life I fell so hard because I was not looking down the lane AT ALL. I only saw it directly in front of me. It was like everyone around me saw, but me. When our gaze is focused on our path in life, we can see the dangers, especially if we are running in sobriety. However, if we are blowing through trails with lightning speed recklessly dangering ourselves and all those around us, we leave carnage everywhere we go. We break people. We break ourselves. We fall. We injure. We bruise. We limp. With the best of intentions, we set people, jobs, friends, and money on altars, we worship them and take our eyes off our path and onto them. We rush into decisions, landmines, and crags, we fall, and our finish lines become distant vision boards we dreamed of but never fulfilled. 

Set your gaze on the path before you. I love the verse that says "My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose. Don't ever forget how they empower you.". Proverbs 3:21

The great thing about the trail run is it's always there, so even if you go off course. Every morning is a chance to make the run again. "His mercies are new every morning." Don't give up!

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Location: Lakeland, FL, USA

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