A few years ago ... in April of 2000 I faced a health crisis in my life. I decided I needed to take better care of myself and I committed to exercise 6 days a week, resting only on the Sabbath day.
It was hard at first to keep to the schedule but over a few months it became easier and easier. I lost a lot of weight but that was never my goal. I just wanted to be healthy and have my heart last until I was tired of using it
After a couple of years I heard about interval training....a way to make your workouts even better without necessarily spending more time....I didn’t have more time to devote to exercise than the one hour a day I was already committed to.
Basically interval training is working at a very high level for a few minutes followed by a short period of less intense exercise. I found this worked well for me and again I lost weight and gained more energy. I felt stronger, and good about what I was doing.
The following year I was still using the “interval” training method but it became easy for me....I had obviously been doing the same thing for too long...even the “strenuous” periods were getting way too easy. It was hard to get my heart rate elevated....a sign that it had become very healthy and strong.
It was about this time that I read an article about cycling and how it is a great form of interval training if you can find a course with enough hills. Lucky for me I live in an area where I can make a daily 12-14 mile ride with lots of hills along the way. The first day nearly killed me!!!
In fact I only made it because once I was 5 miles from home I had no alternative but to ride back.
The last two hills before my house that day I had to “walk” my bike up....very embarrassing. The next day I barely made it up ....only by gearing my bike to the least possible amount of exertion. I knew that over time I would get stronger and then I’d be able to make it up the hills without using the gears for assistance.
Months went by....no matter how hard I tried the hills on the way home were just too hard. I could never make it to the top without shifting to an easier gear. This went on for almost a year and then I got a job as a teacher of teenage youth...an early morning class .... my class was smallish...only 13 students and I found I loved both teaching and being with them each day.
As I prayed for them each day, and for myself...that I could be a good teacher....I began to feel the weight of their problems and the difficulties they faced each day not only at school but at home and in other social settings. I felt a deep compassion for them and a desire to help. One day I was riding my bike....the normal 13 mile route....and I was thinking a lot about one of my students. I silently prayed to Heavenly Father that he would help this wonderful young person face the challenges they were having.....before I knew it I was home.....the first thing I thought to myself was “Hey, I made it....I never had to use my gears on the hills”. I was elated!!! I did it!!!
Later that day I was still thinking about how that had happened and suddenly I received the distinct impression that my Heavenly Father was teaching me something. Just as interval training can make our heart stronger....so can our trials, sometimes they will last for what seems to be an eternity but as long as we keep “pedaling” we are building strength slowly but surely and eventually we will be strong enough to make it all the way. Secondly I recognized that I was able to complete the ride with ease once I quit focusing on the hills! That day my mind had been focused on things of the Spirit....the physical pain had been non-existent as I spoke silently with my Heavenly Father.
I gained a great testimony that day of two things....it’s important to keep pedaling when the hills never seem to end, and ... if we focus only on the hardships we may never feel we have the strength to get through it and we’re in danger of giving up. I will always be grateful for that day and my newfound testimony of the Lord’s Interval Training Plan...
