Sara Hall: Getting Back Up
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 10)
Posted May 30th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Sara Hall
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Sara Hall
Welcome to the official blog of U.S. middle-distance runner Sara Hall. Sara’s list of running accolades include being a former NCAA All- American at Stanford, the 2006 USA 5K road champion, and the 2006 champion at the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile. Check back every other Friday for her latest entry at http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/
Part I: Last Week
During a recent visit to my hometown,Santa Rosa, CA, when Ryan and I were speaking at a local running shoe store, Ryan said to the crowd of young runners, “Someone once asked me ‘What describes an Olympian?’ and I said, ‘It’s the person who just keeps getting back up.’” I had heard him say this before, but this day it stuck with me. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs in my professional career. This outdoor season has been no exception.
Yesterday I had a disastrous race at the Adidas Outdoor Classic. I followed the rabbit out at a suicidal pace, unaware of how fast we were going (44 sec for the first 300 meters), and ended up dead last. It was painful in more ways than one. The night after a race like this is the worst. Before falling asleep, I replay it over and over in my mind, pointing out what I should and should not have done, and beat myself over the head. But lying in bed at our home in Big Bear Lake, as I was going through this process, feeling humiliated, I remembered the verse, “For now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I realized that the only one pointing the finger at me in disappointment was myself. In that moment, I prayed and asked God to encourage my heart, as my own pep talks weren’t cutting it. I woke up today and had the best day in a long time. I felt God’s peace and acceptance in a way that was deeper than what can be determined by a race outcome. Not to say that I had accepted my performance, but I felt God’s grace reminding me that I was a work in progress. Maybe my learning curve is more gradual than others, but I am learning, and once I finally get there, taking the long route is going to make it even sweeter!
During my run that day in Big Bear, my mind would occasionally drift back to the race and I would get frustrated. And I kept stumbling. Whether it was from tired legs or the many rocks and roots on the trail, it was a good reminder to me to “keep getting back up.”
Part II: This week
Yesterday I flew to New York for the Reebok Grand Prix, and during the long travel day I finished watching two movies I had previously started: Freedom Writers and Amazing Grace. For those who haven’t seen them, Freedom Writers is a story of a young teacher (Erin Gruwell) in Long Beach who devoted her life to changing the lives of her students in an inner-city high school. Amazing Grace is about William Wilberforce dedicating his life to the abolition of the slave trade in the 18th century. Both movies left me so inspired, and as I thought about them later that night, I realized the movies that I am drawn to are a reflection of how God has wired me, what He has put in my heart. I long to live a life that is passionately in pursuit of a purpose like Wilberforce, who tirelessly pursued his cause without being discouraged by the opposition and failure along the way. I want to inspire others in a way that affects change in their lives for the better, like Erin Gruwell for her students. I desire to be dedicated to making a positive impact on others’ lives both first-hand, like Erin Gruwell, and at a global level like Wilberforce.
I think this is what can be most discouraging after bad races. It makes me wonder my running is accomplishing this purpose, whether I am making the kind of impact my heart seeks. After all, my performance at Adidas Track Classic in my mind was far from inspiring. I have little time to interact first-hand with those in need on a daily basis to impact their lives for the better. However, my hope is, that in the end, as I pick myself up from these races, the perseverance that marks my running career will be an inspiration to others. As I depend on the Lord to restore my hope for the season and give me the courage to take risks the next race out, that this would be an inspiration. And that through my running, I can help impact global poverty through promoting World Vision and other causes where I see change occurring. My career thus far may not be worthy of an inspiring movie like one I watched on the plane, but it is just beginning, and who knows what’s in store if I keep “getting back up!”
- Sara
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Related Stories:
- Sara Hall: Back to Training, Chicago and Off to Zambia
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 17) - Sara Hall: Music
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #9) - Sara Hall: Back to the Mountains
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4) - Sara Hall: Patience
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #3) - Sara Hall: Hello from Philly!
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)
Tags: beliefs, blog, christian, comments, elite athlete, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, elite runner, faith, glorifying god, god, jesus, Marianne Williamson, mission, olympics, perseverance, religion, Ryan Hall, sara hall, sara hall blog, tfs elite athlete blog series, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series
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The Final Sprint
“…be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I CORINTHIANS 15:58
Hi Sara,
Stay strong. The Lord has known from of old the results of the Reebok Grand Prix and the adidas Classic. He knows that 4:07, or an Olympic team spot are not the ultimate goal He has for you–much as your fans and those who look up to you would wish for you. Trust Him and be encouraged as Ryan and Terrance continue to help you focus. Your impact remains to be revealed in the Lord’s perfect timing.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I THESSALONIANS 5:9-11
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pmIt is really amazing how the little things we do in life can have the greatest impact. This blog entry is more powerful than you realize:
- it shows the world that many elite athletes ARE positive role models for the youth of today, you work hard to reach your goals, you have good days and not-so-good days, you pick yourself up and try again (and have great success!).
- it shows the human side to the glitz and glamor of elite running (I, too, spent one night last week beating myself up about things I could have, should have, would have done better with my day . . . and days 10 years ago - as if I could go back and change things!)
- it shows the gracious and community-oriented side of a powerful, fast woman
Thank you for taking time out of your training to share your experiences with the world through your blog. You ARE an inspiration, movie or no movie!
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 amSara,
Thank you for sharing your faith and how it permeates everything in your life. Elite runner or not, forget what lies in back of us and reach forward.
There is a song by the Newsboys–”Stay Strong” Have you heard it? I thought of it when I read your blog.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:13 pmThis is encouraging!!! Keep pressing on and keep looking at Jesus, the author an perfecter of your faith!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 1:05 amSara,
August 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pmI’m 33 years old, a stay-home mom. I began running in January of 2006. I weighed 200lbs. Running enabled me to tap into a God-inspired drive that I had long ago forgotten was there. By the next December I ran, and finished the Sunmart Endurance 50K in Texas. This may sound like a great achievement, but I was injured. I did too much too soon. When I couldn’t run, I cried out to God, “why did you take this dream away from me when I feel like I was just beginning to live again?” God is so good! He said that I need to quit running ahead of Him. He instilled in me passion and drive, but it has to be in His time. After seven months of rehab, I’m starting over…running with a friend just 2-3 miles at a time. It hurts to stumble and fall, but I trust God that He will fullfill me. He will fullfill the desires of your heart, and you can bet He knows those desires even better than you. Be patient…let the Holy Spirit guide you…don’t run ahead of His purpose. He has a plan for your life. No matter if a person runs 5 minute miles or 12 minute miles, God puts running in many lives, yours and mine…Ryan’s…to be a witness to others of His goodness.
blessings,
-vanessa-