Absolutely great race today!  We ran the Duramax half marathon trail run at Innsbrook Resort near St. Louis.  Met some great people and made some new friends!  God was so good to us today.  The morning started off very cold and raining and I was forced to wear a rain jacket covering my TEAM413 shirt.  Prayed that the rain would stop.  After mile 1, it stopped!  I handed my jacket to a race worker trusting that God would have me find it.  The car key was in it!  I did!  

3 of the 6 of us were new to half marathons and did amazing!  All finished safe and to God be the glory!  Mark, the announcer even did a shoutout to TEAM413 when I accepted my medal of 1st in my age division.   There are some good things to moving up to the 40-44 bracket.  Lol  

As I've learned from experience, I packed extra rain gear, gloves and hats which I shared.  Just reminded me of Ephesians 6:12 where God instructs us to put on "his armor".  As with running and being ready for any condition you may run in, I was reminded of the many times I had run cold, wet and unprepared.  Like with my spiritual life, I learned from experience how to "dress".  This is not a one time lesson but one learned from life and the experiences it brings.  How thankful I am that God has brought me this far.  I have learned to never leave without the appropriate running gear and to always follow Ephesians 6;12 instructing us all to  "put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."