Never underestimate the power of prayer

I just want to share a praise report and a shout out to Jesus!

We had been in Louisville since Thursday. Every day had been extreme humidity and temperatures in the high 90s with feels like in the 100’s. The first day it was hard to even get my breath when I stepped out of the door. I typically only use my inhaler just before a run, but I had to use it here as soon as we stepped outside each day. 

 

Our race was on Sunday! I was already anxious about the amount of hills on the course, but more so climbing those hills in this heat and humidity! 

 

We woke up race morning and surprisingly it felt slightly less oppressive in temperature but the humidity was off the charts! I needed a puff of my inhaler just to walk to bike set up! The water temp was 87°!

 

For those of you that have ever done a relay, it’s a long and anxious wait for the runner.  The swimmer takes off early and they are in and out of the water. The biker takes off when it is still somewhat early and hasn’t reached the highest temps yet, but the runner anxiously waits for several hours in the hot sun until its time for their segment just trying to find a place to keep cool. You try to follow the biker on the tracking app so you know just when you need to eat your last meal, go to the bathroom (which is an ordeal with a one piece kit on when you are already sweaty and all done in a port-a-potty) put your shoes on and all the things! It’s a tough wait BUT the runner also is the one that gets to experience the finishers chute! That experience, makes everything worth it!!

So here’s my story… The morning of the race, I asked my sister to pray, specifically due to the heat and the hills!  She told me that she already was praying for some clouds to come in and block the stifling sun. I had been praying for the same thing along with safety for all of the athletes, no crashes for Sean on the bike no issues with my breathing or crazy high heart rate when the temps get that high, etc..

 

So, I walked around trying to find somewhere to park myself for a few hours where I could be out of the direct sun and be off of my feet! There was no shade to be found so I put a towel down and sat in the corner of the transition area where a flag partly blocked the direct sun and began the wait! I kept a wet towel on my neck but the humidity was still draining. It was finally my time! Sean was back from the bike and it was time to run! We exchanged the relay chip and I was off!  C’mon Jesus…let’s do this!

Right from the start it’s a slight uphill and stifling hot! It was already hard to breathe! Less than a mile or so in, a slight haze suddenly came over the sun like very high cloud cover causing somewhat of a light shield. When I reached Cherokee Park which was very pretty but where the steep hills and winding climbs began (miles 4-9) it suddenly felt surprisingly bearable. It might’ve had something to do with all of the ice that the wonderful volunteers poured down our kits at every aid station, but when I looked up, the sky was a haze, and there seemed to be a film of protection from the direct sun. I was in awe because I knew that this was a direct answer from God! The sky had not been like this once the entire time we were there. By the time we were approaching the last mile (still uphill 😩) of the race, the haze was clearing and once through the finish line as I came out the other end of the chute, the sun was bright and beaming and scorching again just like before! 

THIS WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE…THIS WAS A GODINCIDENCE!!!

Don’t ever underestimate the power of prayer!

ALL GLORY TO GOD!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1

Thank You Jesus!