connect S P R I N G 2 015
MAGAZINE
LEAVING YOUR
COMFORT ZONE RUNNING
FASTER
COURAGE TO
Start , FAITH TO FINISH
FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT
A WORD FROM MITCHELL
WELCOME TO
connect Hot Chocolate and A Word From God!
A
FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS in Atlanta, Georgia, working the Run
were trying to distract and destroy
for God booth at the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K Expo. I was amazed
Nehemiah. They sent him letters
at the size of this race. Nearly 25,000 people signed up to run
requesting meetings, and spread
a frigid January race for a hoodie and some hot chocolate. I think the folks at
rumors about what he was doing.
RAM Racing must be on to something.
Nevertheless, Nehemiah kept his focus.
98% of the runners who stopped by were warm, accepting, or at least cordial; but
It seemed this lesson was just for me.
occasionally I would notice those who seemed offended by our very presence,
The Bible is full of stories about those
walking out of their way to go around our booth. Some passed by not paying
who responded to God, worked through
attention until one of us said, “Hello,” then they’d just keep walking and shaking
adversity, and went down in history as
their head. Others stood staring at our booth in disgust, almost daring us to
soldiers of Christ. We are all called to be
engage in some kind of debate.
like Nehemiah, to run the path that God
You would think that the encouraging 98% would drown out that small 2%. For me, it didn’t. I found myself getting discouraged and even somewhat ill at that 2%. Inwardly, I was fighting a pretty serious battle. It felt like a test of my spirit, to take
has laid in front of us and to lay aside the sin and distractions that make us lose our focus.
my focus off of the point— sharing the gospel of Christ. I knew there were those
So let me encourage you today. If you
around me who don’t have a relationship with Christ, and I could either shine His
are facing opposition while trying to
light or allow my “flesh” to take over.
advance God’s kingdom, then you may
At the end of our two days I was physically exhausted, but more than that I was mentally exhausted from the spiritual battle that had taken place. My mind started to wonder. Am I on the right path? Am I really the person for this? Is what I’m doing really making a difference? I see now that God was using the lingering doubts in my mind to prepare my heart for His Word. The Sunday school lesson that week was taken from Nehemiah 6. God had called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He had many
be exactly where God wants you to be. Prayerfully keep your eye on what God has called you to do, and don’t lose your focus.
Mitchell Hebrews 12:1 James 1:2-4
supporting and helping him, but there were two men, Sanballat and Geshem who
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features 14 S tudent Spotlight: LEAVING YOUR COMFORT ZONE 22 I nstructor Spotlight: WHEN GOD LEADS
DE PA RT MENTS 6. DEAN’S THOUGHTS: Running Faster
20. Sticky Notes
26 T riathlon: COURAGE TO START FAITH TO FINISH 36 B eyond the Run: ROCK’N YOUR RUN
14 RUNFORGOD.COM
21. Gear & Gadgets 42. Behind the Scenes
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STARTING YOUR DAY WITH A RUN? START YOUR RUN WITH GOD Pick up your copy of
Run for God
DEVOTIONS TODAY!
RUNFORGOD.COM
Copyright © 2014 Run for God, LLC. All rights reserved.
CONT R I B UTO R S
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any other form or by any means without the prior written permission of the Run for God, LLC. Printed in the United States of America Dalton, Georgia If you require medical, fitness, or nutritional advice, you must contact your own health care professional. You should seek the advice of a doctor before starting any exercise routine.
Tanna Friday is an instructor,
Dean Thompson serves as
runner, sweet tea drinker,
the National Race Director
and writer with 4 children
for the Run for God Race
This publication may contain information relating to various medical conditions and their treatment and an exercise/nutrition protocol. Such information is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice of a physician or health care professional. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or injury.
who currently lives in
Series as well as serving as
Georgia. Although she
an instructor at his home
struggles to find ways to
church in Cohutta, GA. Dean
post to all social media
loves to run, loves life, loves
platforms while running,
his wife Debbie and loves
(need an app for that!) she
Christ. Look for all of Dean’s
enjoys tapping into the
stories in Run for God’s
national running community
Devotions.
To make informed health care decisions, you should always consult your physician for your personal medical needs. Neither Run for God nor its agents, affiliates, partners, or licensors are providing these materials to you for the purpose of giving you medical advice.
for God and God’s grace.
For any questions about your health and wellbeing, please consult your physician.
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to share her passion for Run
LET’S CONNECT RUNFORGOD.COM
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Dean’ s Thoughts
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I
have fielded thousands of questions about running by runners ranging from six to sixty-six years old. They range from easy to impossible, from one word answers to voluminous discourses, or from personal
queries about me to individual recommendations for them. Since I love to talk about anything running related, I never mind taking the time to discuss anyone’s interests or concerns. Recently, after a race, a high school runner walked up to me, introduced himself and asked me the question I am asked frequently, “What do I need to do to make myself faster?” There are, quite literally, thousands of answers to that question, but it is often asked as if there is a mystery formula, and I am the key-holder to the lock-box of the secret. So, I sat and pondered, searching for a simple answer to that question. Knowing that I have been a fairly successful runner using many different combinations of training methods, and that those routines continue to evolve as I get older, how would I boil it all down to a simple answer? After a fairly short period of time, I reached the end of my intellectual capacity and came up with the following answer: Consistency and hard work. Ta Da! Incredibly insightful, huh? Of course not. Here’s the bottom line: Elite runners are doing all the little things that shave tenths of seconds from their 10K times, but the fact is that most of us are not doing the big things that can shave many seconds or even minutes from
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our times. Worrying about the mix of carbohydrates and
rides and swimming for four miles at a time. I kept it simple
protein in your meal the night before a race is great, but if you
and decided to let the chips fall where they may. Well, the
short-changed your training, your dinner won’t upright the
chips were good to me, and I completed the race faster than I
sinking ship.
had ever hoped, which led me to this conclusion: Consistency and hard work paid off! Although my training was not
In 2014, I decided it was time to check off an Ironman
conventional, I did work hard every week.
distance triathlon from my bucket list. It would require me to completely change the way I was training, because
I like to ask young runners how many days a week they run
I now had to incorporate cycling and swimming into my
and how much time they take off in between seasons. The
plan. I studied triathlon training and even began to plan my
answers vary, as some are committed and take little time off;
training, but something got in the way. I had been running
but many take months off and even skip running days during
every day for nearly two consecutive years, and I decided
the season. Next, I ask them if they want to be the best
it was more important for me to keep my streak going than
runner they can be, and the answer is always the same: Yes!
to run the fastest triathlon I could run and my training plan
It’s interesting because they’ll ask about the tiniest detail;
became simple: run seven days a week, bike two days a
like how to tie their shoes properly for maximum speed. They
week and swim two days a week. I didn’t always get the
want to know about the little things but they’re not even
swimming and the biking in, but I did get my running in. I
doing the big things right!
didn’t follow the normal plan of riding multiple hundred mile
54 4 4 BIG THINGS THAT MOST IMPACT YOUR PERFORMANCE
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2:00
HAVE NO REGRETS.
EFFORT IS EVERYTHING.
Make it your goal to never
Most people don’t vary their speed
come home from a run and be
in training very much. If you want to
disappointed because you cut
get faster, you have to train faster.
it short, didn’t run as hard as
If you are a nine minute per mile
you wanted, or ran too hard on
5K runner, you need to spend time
an easy day. Don’t talk yourself
running eight minutes per mile in the
into an excuse not to run. Those
form of intervals, fartlek, or pick-ups
days will break you down both
(Google it if you don’t know). But
physically and mentally. Decide
often, the neglected side is that you
how many miles you want to
also need to spend time running
run each week and do it. Every
at over ten minutes per mile on the
week. The only exception is
days when you don’t run hard. Make
number three.
your hard days hard and your easy
1:00
1:00
days easy!
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sometimes worry so much about all the little things, like exactly how to interpret the book Revelation, while we miss the most basic necessities. I believe that if we spend time with God in prayer and time inside the pages of the
“
Bible, everything will follow. God will take it from there! I have always been amazed by Dr. Billy Graham and his son Dr. Franklin Graham. No matter what the topic at hand may be, they always find a way to share the plan of salvation. The message is always simple and straightforward, void of fancy words or complicated concepts. It is clear that they have a message and they carry that message with them wherever they go. I’m sure it didn’t happen overnight. As simple as it looks, they have planned, prayed, and pleaded with God for His help in sharing His message. The fact that
Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.” - Catching Fire, The Hunger Games
it looks so effortless is a testament to that.
5:00
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
REST APPROPRIATELY.
Soreness is okay, pain is not. If
Your muscles repair themselves
you have pain, do something to
while you sleep so get plenty
EAT GOOD MEALS AND STAY HYDRATED. Don’t fret
make it better, whether that is
of it. I have heard a lot of
over what you eat, but eat
using ice and anti-inflammatories
people over the years brag
regular meals. Skip any diet
or going to see a doctor. You’ll
about how little sleep they
that tells you to eliminate
get over the soreness. If you
require. I have a name for those
any particular type of
will learn to embrace and enjoy
people as it relates to running:
food. Eat natural food in
soreness, it will help.
Underachiever. Everyone’s sleep
reasonable proportions, with
needs are a little different, but
carbohydrates, protein and
you shouldn’t be nodding off in
vegetables at each meal.
the middle of the day. A short
Snack on fruits and nuts.
night of sleep every now and
Drink lots of water.
444 RUNFORGOD.COM
then will not hurt, but you don’t want to make a habit of it.
5:00
4:00
4:00
3:00
3:00
2:00
Being a Christian is almost exactly the same. We
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“
What do we do in those circumstances? The responses to unanticipated situations are as varied as the situations themselves, but most fit into three categories: We can retreat from it, fake it, or learn from it.” 10
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Going Outside Your Comfort Zone The folks at Kindle keep track of the most highlighted sentences from those who use their reader. The most highlighted sentence in any book comes from the popular Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins from the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire. It reads, “Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.” Does that sound familiar? I would say we have all faced something we felt ill-prepared to deal with. What do we do in those circumstances? The responses to unanticipated situations are as varied as the situations themselves, but most fit into three categories: We can retreat from it, fake it, or learn from it. For the most part, your personality may dictate your course of action or inaction, but one thing is sure, it is not comfortable or pleasant in any way. No one likes to feel they are not in control. So why then, do we most often choose to retreat from it or fake it? If someone brings up a subject in conversation that you feel you should know, we often either excuse ourselves from that discussion or we act as if we understand and hope no one asks us a direct question. When the dialogue is finished, we relax and move on, never thinking about it again. Very little learning takes place when we choose these two paths. There is a third option available to us. We can choose to learn from uncomfortable situations. We are often so worried about what others will think of us if we show our vulnerability, that we avoid asking questions we really want to ask. If we reveal that we don’t know, we’re afraid people will think less of us. What would we learn if we were never afraid to ask
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those questions? Even more, what if we went home after that
There is an old Revolutionary War saying, “Trust in God, but
conversation and studied so that the next time the subject
keep your powder dry.” It is great to have full faith in Him,
was raised, we would be subject matter experts?
but we have to do our due diligence in preparation. Would you run a marathon on two weeks of training? Of course not!
Paul said in Ephesians 4:11-16: And he gave the apostles, the
It takes dedication and perseverance to be ready on race day,
prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to
and then we still may feel unprepared. But deep down inside,
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the
we know we’ve done all we can.
body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to
What if someone came to you today and asked for spiritual
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that
guidance from you? Would you be prepared to help? If not,
we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves
what can you do to be prepared? If we are striving to be who
and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human
God wants us to be, that moment will inevitably come. The
cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking
more you shine Jesus’ light, the more people notice and the
the truth in love, we are to grow up in every joint with which
more likely they will approach you with questions. It may
it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the
seldom happen that someone seeks spiritual guidance from
body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
you, or it may happen regularly. More than likely, it wasn’t comfortable the first time; but chances are, you recognized
God has a part for each of us to play. If we don’t take the
it as an honor to be chosen to do His work. If you have never
time to learn about the big picture, it is difficult for us to
experienced it, look at this way: How did you feel the first
be successful with our part of the picture. Have you ever
time you ran a 5K? You were nervous before the race, but
felt God urging you to share Christ with someone, but then
when it was over, you were excited! You prepared and then
walked away, retreating from the situation, because you felt
executed your plan. So, how do you prepare to be used by
you were not prepared to handle it? If we’re being honest,
God when He calls on you to assist others? The answer
I think most of us have been there. I know I have! When
can be found in the most highlighted Bible verse on Kindle:
we do this, we’re doing more than being disobedient to
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
Him. We’re short-changing His ability to carry us through
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
the conversation! Of course, He also expects us to prepare
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
for those encounters, but for many of us, we will never be
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
“comfortable” with those discussions until we force our way
Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 4:6 (NIV)
through the wall of discomfort.
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2015
RUN FOR GOD WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SPONSORS.
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Student Spotlight
LEAVING YOUR
Comfort ZONE
BY TANNA FRIDAY
There are times when God calls us to be strong helpers and supporters in widespread ways. Run for God had the honor of spotlighting someone who not only extends her help to her husband, but also to the Run for God ministry she encouraged her husband to lead.
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The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 I DON’T THINK MANY of us women truly embrace
the calling of this passage. Woman, created in the image of God, was designed to be a helper suitable to her husband. To some, the term “helper” may sound inferior, but it is simply because our English translation does not compare to the Hebrew term. Instead, reflect upon our Savior carrying His cross toward Gethsemane. Because of the beatings He had endured, Simon of Cyrene helps carry His cross (Mark 15:21). So when you read this passage, remember “helper” is not defined as a maid waiting on a master’s orders. This is not God’s example of help. Instead, we are called to comfort, show compassion, defend, encourage, protect and support. We are called to be like Christ.
Giving Comfort Instead of Seeking It Knowing about his passion of running and his calling to serve in a ministry, Wendy encouraged her husband, Darren, to start a Run for God 5k Challenge at their church in October 2013. “The Run for God program was like a big billboard,” she laughs. “I reminded Darren that he had been praying for a ministry where he could be useful and
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Student Spotlight
“
She was the glue that held the class together.”
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share his passion. How could he not
pictures and encouraging everyone to keep moving. It
want to be a part of something like
was wonderful,” she explains. “Throughout the race,
Run for God?”
I was trying to catch up with people I knew.”
On March 19, 2014, Darren answered
When asked how Run for God influenced Wendy
God’s call to ministry and began a
personally, “Well, I had a great instructor number
Run for God ministry at their church,
one. I love my husband,” she says, with a smile.
Christ United Methodist Church in
“The rewards with Run for God were having the
Chattanooga, Tennessee. With her
opportunity to help my husband and to be a part
encouragement and full support, she
of something bigger than myself,” she explains.
was by his side as his co-leader and
“In addition, it not only made me more active, but
running partner.
also enriched our marriage and made us closer as a family.” Wendy adds that her 9-year-old son,
Wendy supported Darren with the
Benjamin, has enjoyed running alongside her and
administrative responsibilities
Darren, throughout the class. “He would join us on
including class communications and,
the track when we had our group workout,” she
at times, co-leadership. “She was the
shares. “It was truly a proud moment for me to
glue that held the class together,”
see him enjoy the sport of running and
Darren says. “I knew that he didn’t
accomplish something.”
have the time to do the extras since he works full-time. He needed my
A Shrinking Comfort Zone
help,” she joins in.
Not only was public speaking out of Wendy’s comfort
“There were times I would co-lead when Darren would have to work late,” she says. “At first, I didn’t feel comfortable with public speaking, but
zone, but also running. Before Run for God, Wendy had not run. “I loved when Run for God released the Move Out of Your Comfort Zone t-shirt,” she says. “I have been saying this all along.”
I gave it to God and he took control of
“I was a co-leader and a student,” she says. “When
it.” Explaining her responsibilities of
we were training, I wanted to experience it all so I
co-leading when her husband needed
could be the encourager and help motivate others.”
her. Throughout our conversation, her
Although these points were out of her comfort zone,
radiant spirit reflected that God was
Wendy discovered that she needed to minister to the
in control. In fact, the Christ United
students in Run for God like God, her Help, ministers
Methodist Run for God graduate class
to her.
PICK UP YOUR COMFORT ZONE SHIRT
TODAY!
can attest to this, as well. Under the instruction of her husband, Wendy,
“I knew that if I were going to do this, I would have to
along with thirty-eight students,
be fully committed to support everyone,” she says.
trained for 12 weeks for the 5k
“Even when it’s raining.” But what Wendy gained
training program. They celebrated
from this experience was much more, including
and completed their graduation race
creating deep friendships.
at Run for God’s JFest 5k in East Ridge, Tennessee, on June 20, 2014.
“God knows where we feel deficient,” she explains.
“Darren was running around taking
“Run for God really turned it into a blessing.”
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S
ST ICK Y NOT ES
Spring Has Sprung –
Come Out and Run! 3 Tips To Get You Outdoors When the snow begins to thaw and temps begin to rise, many of us head outdoors and hit the open roads for some fresh spring air. There is nothing more refreshing or invigorating than training in the springtime, but there are a few things to consider to keep your running as enjoyable as possible.
BUTTER UP BUTTERCUP
REMEMBER THE 10% RULE
Don’t forget the sunscreen.
With this incredible spring
The sun is shining bright and
weather, you feel like you can run
although the air feels refreshing
like Forrest! Even if you have been
on your skin, the UV rays will still
running indoors on the treadmill
leave a nasty burn on exposed
during the winter months, please
skin. Make sure that you apply
remember to follow the 10%
sunscreen to exposed areas
rule: don’t increase your weekly
such as the back of the neck,
mileage by more than 10% from
upper back, ears, and nose. It
the previous week. Building
would be a great idea to use an
up your mileage gradually
SPF lip balm and wear a visor
prevents injuries.
or hat such as our Run for God SweatVac Hat.
UNPLUG Even though Rocky’s theme song may help you have your rockstar run, it is not safe when running outside. It is important to be aware of what is around you including a car, person, or animals coming your way. You can still listen to your music, just put it on speakerphone.
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TAKING INVENTORY: When to Replace Your Running Shoes
GEAR & GA D G E TS
Andrew Dorn, Manager, Front Runner Athletics
What to Look for: If there are distinctive compression lines or wrinkles along the midsole, this is an indicator that the shoe has lost its cushioning. Test: Hold the shoe upside down and press with your thumb on the outer sole towards the midsole. If there is little or no compression, this is an indicator that it is time to replace your shoes. SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! After taking a few months off from running, it
is easy to forget how old or worn out your running shoes are. Do you know the last time you replaced your shoes? If your memory is fading, it may be time to purchase some new treads.
Worn Treads Another place Front Runner Athletics suggests to check for wear is on the bottom of the shoe, or the outer sole.
A general rule is 400 miles, but Andrew Dorn, manager of Front Runner
As Dorn mentioned previously, this
Athletics in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is more concerned with how you wear
part of the shoe tends to wear down
your shoes. “If you run mostly on roads, your shoes will have a much shorter
faster for those running on roads than
life than if you spend time on the treadmill,” says Dorn. “Keeping a running
for those running on the treadmill.
log, making note of the date you started wearing your shoes, then keeping track of your weekly running mileage, will help you easily calculate your
What to Look for:
mileage in your shoes.”
Worn treads can be seen visibly by looking at the bottom of the shoe
To help figure out if your running shoes need replacement, Front Runner Athletics provides some helpful tips to determine when it’s time to part ways with our worn out trainers:
in the heel and forefoot areas. Look closely for areas where the rubber treads have been worn smooth.
Midsole Wear
Test: Place the shoe on a flat surface.
For most running shoes the midsole is the first part of the shoe to wear out.
If the shoe is leaning excessively on
This layer provides the cushioning and support for the shoe. Over time, the
one side, it is worn out and needs to
foam material loses its shock absorption as when the shoe was new.
be replaced. SPRING 2015
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Instructor Spotlight
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WHEN
“
God LEADS
The Run for God program kept appearing to us like a big billboard.”
-Darrin Lewis,
T
BY TANNA FRIDAY
he summer after Darren and Wendy Lewis were married, Darren prayed for God to lead him to a ministry. He would ask God for His insight, and Darren would remind Him of his heartfelt desire to serve. And with that, he set
off on this journey of letting God be God and discovering the Run for God ministry.
Run for God Instructor
In Romans 8 there is a beautiful verse that we rattle off and say so frequently, we often forget its profound meaning. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
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Instructor Spotlight
“
If you were to ask me if I felt comfortable leading a Bible study, I would have thought you were crazy.”
Darren and Wendy Lewis along with their son, Benjamin. God had plans for Darren, though he could not see it at the time. “It took a while. The Run for God program kept appearing to us like a big billboard,” his wife Wendy shares. “He was made to do this type of thing. He loves running and loves God.” Darren also knew that as a result of attending Run for God’s Instructor Summit in 2013, a weekend of fellowship and training, he had come away awestruck by the character and nature of God, with the realization that God was paving a way. Five months later, Darren answered God’s call and began a Run for God ministry at their church, Christ United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With her encouragement and full support, his wife Wendy accompanied him as his co-leader and new running partner. To their surprise, the first class consisted of over 100 students who were laced up and ready to run. “If we can help just one person, that’s what God wants us to do,” he shares. “It’s about the quality, not the number.”
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2 Timothy 2:2 tells us that we are to take what we have
classes with a 30-minute Run for
discovered and entrust it to reliable people who will also
God Bible study lesson, a 30-minute
be qualified to teach others.
running topic, a 30-40 minute group
“If you were to ask me if I felt comfortable leading a Bible study, I would have thought you were crazy,” he says. “Running, I knew. The Biblical and spiritual side, I completely turned over to God.” Darren, a seasonal runner, shares some valuable lessons he has learned, including some that have been a little more difficult. “I put my running on the back burner,” he says. “What I’ve learned
training at the church’s track, and finish with a prayer circle. “We have our children train with us on the track each week,” he shares. “It’s very rewarding to see a difference that this program has made in the lives of everyone who has participated.”
from this journey is that you need to set your own personal
38 participants trained and completed
agendas aside and let God lead you wherever He wants
the 12-week challenge, graduating
you to go. Letting go was the hardest lesson.”
at the Run for God – JFest 5k race on
Darren still made time to run before class and, more importantly, have prayer time in order for God to prepare his heart and lesson for class. “What I’ve learned is how to minister to those in need. If we can help just one person, that is what God wants us to do,” he shares. “God has restored lives, repaired marriages, and provided church homes.” Built on the Run for God 5k Challenge study, Christ United Methodist Run for God instructors typically structure their
June 20, 2014. As each one “ran his own race,” Darren captured the joys of each moment in photographs, while doing what God lead him to do - run and share God’s love. “Watching each one of them cross the finish line was more moving than completing my first marathon,” he says. “It was like experiencing the joy of God’s presence.” The journey did not end once the 38 graduates crossed the finish line. “Many of our students wanted to continue to train and continue with a Bible study,” he continues. “This ministry has been a journey within itself. We are going to continue to grow this thing and want to take it to the next level.” Christ United Methodist Church has plans to begin another Run for God program in March, 2015.
The Christ United Methodist Run for God class celebrating their Run for God journey. RUNFORGOD.COM
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Start , FAITH TO COURAGE TO
FINISH
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A story of how God used three friendships and one seed of faith to give two ordinary people the courage to start the Run for God 5k program and the faith to complete an Ironman.
F
aith is such a powerful gift from God, as seen in Christ’s words to His disciples in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Faith is so important to our Christian life that the Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, without it, it is impossible to please God. In fact, we see how powerful God’s gift of faith is in Matthew 17:14-20, when Christ tells his disciples their attempts were unsuccessful “because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move; Nothing will be impossible for you.” We know that this statement about moving mountains by faith is not to be taken literally, but what is key is the nature of faith, which is a gift from God. If you have ever seen a mustard seed, you will know it is one of the tiniest seeds. What we can draw from this passage is the amount of faith needed to do mighty things is very small.
Meet Dean So, does the tiniest bit of faith increase and multiply in the
Dean Stamper is a husband, father, friend and an Ironman
lives of believers to influence those with whom we come
finisher who started his journey in 2010 weighing a little
in contact? If you know the story of Dean Stamper and
over 300 pounds.
Wendy Tieck, then you know the answer. You may only have to look at the picture of Dean and Wendy on the front
“In 2010, my family and I moved to Dalton, Georgia, and
page of The Chattanooga Times Free Press to realize that
with God’s divine providence, we found a home next
these two performed extraordinary feats in the face of
door to Mitchell Hollis,” says Stamper. “One of the things
unimaginable odds through faith that was, at one time, the
my wife and I love about the South is folks’ openness
size of a mustard seed.
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“
…I think all of our lives have those pivotal moments in them. Mine occurred on Saturday, July 21, 2012.” to discuss their faith with others.
had never been a runner,” he says. “At that time, I tipped
Mitchell is no different.”
the scales at 308 pounds and knew I had to make a change in my life.” Stamper made the decision to make
While getting to know Hollis and his
some changes and joined the Run for God 5k Challenge
family, Dean learned about the Run
along with his son, Andrew. Just 12 weeks later, both
for God ministry that Mitchell and
he and his son graduated in the 2010 Dalton 5k in
his wife, Holly, started at Grove Level
Dalton, GA.
Baptist Church. “Up to this point, I “Throughout the challenge, I remained faithful to the program, trusted God when it became difficult, and listened to my body tell me what it could endure,” Stamper says. “I fell into some pitfalls that first-time runners do; thinking that you could eat whatever you wanted since you’re exercising, but I quickly corrected my problems,” he continues. “Through it all, God never failed me.” Stamper moved up to the next challenge, a 10k (6.2 mile) distance while his son joined the Run for God Junior Triathlon team. “Through the entire journey, my relationship with God, my son and the rest of my family grew stronger with each step,” Stamper says. After completing his 10k goal, he started incorporating swimming into his training to prepare for his next goal, an adult sprint triathlon. He, once again, was able to physically be a part of a race with his son at the Run for God Dalton Parks Triathlon. “After completing my first adult sprint triathlon, I thought I was at the end of my journey when it actually turned out to be a new beginning,” Stamper says. “I think all of our lives have those pivotal moments in them. Mine occurred on Saturday, July 21, 2012.”
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and so afraid of not finishing in time that I didn’t stop to take any pictures along the way.” It turned out that after all of the doubt, Tieck had nothing to worry about. She completed the race with over an hour to spare. “I learned a valuable lesson after completing my first endurance run, ‘never put limits on myself’,” she says.
The Day a Mustard Seed Was Born One evening, Dean, Wendy, and Mitchell were sitting around after dinner discussing the next Run for God Triathlon. “The subject
Meet Wendy
quickly shifted to ‘What’s next?’ in
Wendy Tieck is a wife, friend, and an Ironman finisher
our improbable athletic journey,”
who started her journey in 2011 weighing a little over
Dean says. “Fully looking forward to
240 pounds.
retirement at the time, I told Mitchell that I would probably run some 5k
Wendy, along with Dean’s wife Alissa, journeyed
races and participate in the annual
together in the Run for God 5k Challenge and graduated
Run for God Dalton Parks Triathlon.”
12-weeks later at the Run for God - Run at the Mill 5k the following April.
Who knew the next question Mitchell would ask would change
“After I completed the 5k, I thought 3.1 miles would be
the course of Dean and Wendy’s
the farthest distance I would ever run. Then, my cousin
journey? “He asked us what we
asked me to run in the 2012 Disney Princess Half,” Tieck
thought of signing up for a half
says. “The thought of running 13.1 miles terrified me,
ironman distance triathlon,” he
especially since Disney had strict pace requirements
continues. “Both Wendy and I
and I am super slow! Once I saw that there was a tiara
laughed aloud at the thought.” Once
shaped medal, I bit the bullet and signed up for my first
Dean and Wendy realized Hollis was
endurance race,” Tieck continues.
serious, they stopped laughing and listened to Hollis’ challenge.
“Looking back at the Disney half marathon, I have to shake my head at how afraid I was of completing 13.1
“He promised us both if we would
miles,” she says. “I was so worried throughout my run
commit, he would make it his
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personal mission to get Wendy and
When the actual race day approached, Dean and Wendy
me to the finish line at the 2013
had the training and confidence to finish the race. “Boy
Ironman Florida 70.3,” he says. “I
did we need every bit of that training,” Dean adds. Both
liked the idea of the finish line, but
explained the differences in temperatures that the two had
knew that up until that day, my
been training in the last months. “The temperatures were
longest distance included 6.2 miles,
in the 90’s with humidity at 93%,” he continues. “There was
so for me, the thought of swimming,
definitely a change in temperature compared the comforts we
biking and running an additional
were accustomed to training in North Georgia,” Wendy says.
64.1 miles longer hurt my head.” There were definitely some challenges at the beginning, Before making any quick decisions,
but nothing that God hadn’t already had in His plans.
Dean and Wendy both agreed to
“A little before 8 pm the night before the race, my son
look at their performance from the
Alex had his finger inadvertently smashed in the door of
upcoming sprint triathlon before
our camper,” Dean explains. “The entire tip needed to
making any decisions. “Being the
be surgically put back into place.” Needless to say, Dean
impatient one that I am, I decided
lost many hours of sleep tending to his son, but returned
that if it was meant to be, I did
just a few hours before the race began. “I’m pretty sure
not want my performance in the
I fell asleep a couple of times during the swim,” he
upcoming triathlon to get in the
adds, “but that was probably a good thing since it kept
way of my destiny,” Dean says.
me from thinking of the alligators the race crew scared
“I went online that evening,
away just before the race.”
registered and forwarded my registration to Wendy along with a
“Staying faithful in my ability to do all things through
Run for God motivation photo and
Christ, the miles ticked away slowly but surely,” he
quote by John Bingham that read,
says, “but Wendy and I worked our way to the finish
‘The miracle isn’t that I finished.
line.” When they both reached the finish line, Dean and
The miracle is that I had the
Wendy’s faith grew and they saw how far God had
courage to start.’ Wendy registered
led them.
shortly after.”
An Open Door Hollis kept his word and trained both
Two moths later, Hollis gave them a bigger challenge:
Stamper and Tieck to the finish line
complete an Ironman triathlon. Arguably the world’s most
of the 2013 Ironman Florida 70.3.
grueling endurance race, the Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile
“Mitchell trained us so well that five
swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run
months before the actual race, we
with no break.
completed what we affectionately
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refer to now as the ‘Dean & Wendy
Wendy found herself laughing and saying those words,
Half Ironman’,” he continues.
“I can’t.” “I’m sure there are tougher things that people
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have done, but at 240 pounds, the thought of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles within an allotted time seemed impossible. Completely impossible!” Tieck says. Hollis did not get the immediate response he expected, but a seed was planted. Wendy shares that many times throughout her half Ironman training people would ask her if she would ever consider completing a full Ironman. Her answer was immediately, “Never!” She shares that after reading Scott Rigsby’s book, Unthinkable, she felt conflicted. “As inspiring of a story as it is, I actually had even a less desire to do an Ironman,” she shares, “after reading that he breaks his back in Idaho, gets kicked in the face during the Kona swim, bikes through the wind and blistering heat, and falls during the run.” Scott Rigsby, whose legs were amputated after an 18-wheeler collided with a truck he was riding in at the age of 18, prays that God would open doors for him. He started running triathlons and became the first double amputee to finish Hawaii’s Ironman.
Wendy continues explaining to her friends that after seeing Scott Rigsby speak at Grove Level Baptist Church that she and God had many conversations when she tried every excuse in the book to convince God
Even though Wendy felt a conflict within, she knew deep
of why she shouldn’t complete an
down that God was nudging her to do the impossible.
Ironman. Wendy shares some of
On July 30, 2013, Wendy sent out an email to her
her battle:
devoted friends, Dean and Mitchell that summarized her decision. “I want to explain myself a little bit to the two of you,” she said. “You’ve been there every step of the way, from my initial 5k to my half Ironman, and without either of you, I would still be sitting on the couch. I want you both to know why I am going to do a full Ironman.” As you can imagine, we were all captured by the words of her email. So going back to the initial question “Does the tiniest bit of faith increase and multiply in the lives of
Wendy: “I don’t want to do an Ironman. There’s no way I can finish in time. I’ll go through all that training, and they’ll take me off the course. Besides, there is no reason for me to complete one.” God: “It’s my story, not yours. Don’t worry about the how or the why, just run through the door.”
believers to influence those around us?” You bet!
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Wendy: “My story isn’t the same a
for the full was slow and arduous for me,” Dean shares. “While
Scott’s. He has no legs. A man with no
I had the motivation to sign up, my motivation to stick to a
legs doing an Ironman is impressive.
training schedule was fading.” He shares that his workouts
There’s nothing newsworthy about
became sporadic and that discouragement began to creep into
me completing an Ironman.”
his training.
On July 30th, 2014, Wendy asked for
In early January 2014, Dean was sent to the ER with
the support of her friends, including
pancreatitis caused by a gall stone attack, which left him
Mitchell. “Whether I like it or not, I’m
hospitalized for eight days following the removal of his
all in! Let’s do this! If you can show
gallbladder. “The damage caused to my pancreas left me
me the “how,” maybe one day God
an insulin-dependent diabetic,” he shares. “I knew that my
will let us in on the why,” she says.
Ironman journey had come to an end, but I also knew I could at least support my friends throughout
“After reading her email and after
their journey.”
wiping away some of the mist that was welling up in my eyes, I knew I
Dean was six weeks from being cleared from his surgery
couldn’t let the folks down who were
and when he was able to regulate his blood sugar, he lost an
counting on me,” Dean shares, “and
alarming 30 pounds in three weeks. Dean began to ask if this
I knew I couldn’t quit now on all who
was part of God’s plan all along.
had helped God get me this far.” Meanwhile, Wendy pushed her limits while looking towards All three, Dean, Wendy and Mitchell,
the goal. “The hardest part for me was the naysayers,” Wendy
were able to register together for
shares. “I would tell people that I was training for an Ironman
Ironman Chattanooga, May 2014.
and get a negative response. It’s almost like they thought if
“There were many friends and fellow
they couldn’t complete an Ironman, then there is no way this fat
triathletes that were shut out of
chick can do one.” Wendy definitely didn’t let the naysayers hold
the registration process,” he adds.
her back. “It made me more determined to prove them wrong,”
“The race sold out in minutes, but
she adds. “I would use their comments to fuel my training.”
miraculously, Wendy, Mitchell and I all got in.”
Mitchell and Wendy decided to seek professional coaching through the team at HUB Endurance, owned by Andy Sweet.
Nothing is Impossible
Dean sought Sweet’s professional opinion regarding
Now that Dean and Wendy made the
whether or not he would be able to complete that level of
commitment, the next step was to train
training based on his physical abilities. “Andy told me that it
and keep their eye on the goal. “Training
takes the body a while to forget the level of fitness we achieved
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“
The finish line was fantastic, but the journey was even better. It’s amazing the work God can do – changing couch potatoes into Ironmen and Ironwomen if you only have the courage to start and faith to finish.” training for the previous half Ironman,” he says. “He assured me that if I committed to the plan, I would finish the race.” This was all the confirmation Dean needed. Dean repeated his original mantra, “courage to start, faith to finish,” and recommitted to the path that God paved. “I’m not going to pretend it was an easy journey,” Wendy shares. “It had highs and lows, including the additional mileage to the Ironman course.” The Ironman distance for biking is 112 miles, but Ironman Chattanooga added an additional 4 miles to their bike route due to a permit status. This adjustment totaling the new course distance at 144.6 compared to standard length course of 140.6 miles. “It was beginning to look more and more impossible by the day,” Dean says. “But in my moments of clarity, God provided me with the wisdom to understand that I shouldn’t worry about the things I couldn’t control.” Day by day, event-by-event, both Dean and Wendy continued to build strength and endurance through training and grow in their faith. Then another setback occurred, a wreck. “Dean and I were biking on the course a month before the race and a truck pulled out in front of me causing me to wreck,” Wendy says. “I suffered a horrible road rash, a concussion, and a broken rib that took me out of peak training time.” Wendy’s rib injury did not have time to heal before the race. “I remember thinking, this is impossible! But not with God!” she continues.
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“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are
Ironman. “Maybe God’s ‘why’ was
possible.” Matthew 19:26
so that Dean would have something
Wendy, now beaten and battered from a hard fall, heard people all around her encouraging her to quit her training, but she knew this was not her story. A week and a half later, she was ready with two able arms, legs and a sharp
pushing him after his surgery or maybe it was so Dean and I could complete the Ironman together and show that we did it with and for God.”
mind. Oddly enough, the fact that her rib was not fully
Whatever the reason, the finisher
healed kept her going strong. Wendy shares that she
photo has a few words of its own.
received a 5k PR (personal record) during the Run for God
It illustrates two individuals who
Pinky 5k. “I believe my broken rib fired me up,” she laughs.
performed extraordinary feats who
What Dean and Wendy believed was impossible was possible and part of God’s plan. When race day arrived, God took care of all the worrisome details that were beyond their control including the weather, rest, and swim current. “We couldn’t have scripted a better ending,” Wendy says, “only God could have written something so perfect.” Dean explains that even though he experienced difficulty during the marathon, he was able to catch up to Wendy. “Once I saw Wendy’s mom, she told me that
had faith, which was, at one time, only the size of a mustard seed. “The finish line was fantastic,” Dean shares, “but the journey was even better. It’s amazing the work God can do – changing couch potatoes into Ironmen and Ironwomen if you only have the courage to start and faith to finish.”
Wendy was up ahead,” he says. “I pushed myself to go faster and caught up with Wendy about a mile before the finish line.” Once Dean and Wendy caught up with each other they had a lot to discuss, including how they were going to cross the finish line. “We didn’t want to steal each other’s moment crossing the finish line together,” Wendy says. “We decided to finish at the same time.” “We could hear the crowds cheering in the distance and we kept a steady pace across Walnut Street Bridge and into the Downtown Chattanooga finisher’s chute,” Dean shares. “The atmosphere was electric. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like it in my entire life.” “I know that if I can do an Ironman, anyone can – but you have to have a reason,” she shares. “I felt God wanted me to.” Wendy recalls the message she sent Dean and Mitchell about not knowing “why” God wanted her to complete an
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R o ck’n YO UR
RUN
ROCK CLIMBING CAN BE A GREAT SUPPLEMENT FOR ADDING OVERALL STRENGTH TO YOUR RUNNING REGIMEN. 36
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RUNFORGOD.COM
“
Rock climbing offers a fun cross training program beyond just pushing weights.” - Wills Young, Highpoint Climbing and Fitness
T
raining in various activities that develop the
shares. “That’s why it’s called boulder
aerobic system or build strength can provide
problems.” Boulder problems are
a break from the “same old, same old” while
the path the climber must take to
still moving towards your goal. There are so
complete the climb.
many healthy options to cross training, such as cycling, elliptical, swimming and walking, but did you know that rock climbing, both indoor and outdoor, build mental and physical strength?
Today, indoor climbing facilities provide a controlled, supervised environment that mimic the outdoor rock climbing experience where
Run for God had the chance to speak with two highly accomplished professional rock climbers, Wills Young and Lisa Rands, who not only are husband and wife, but also run the climbing school at High Point Climbing School and Fitness Gym in Chattanooga. Both Rands and Young share a few background facts about the origin of rock climbing, clear one common misconception for beginners, and provide a list of healthy benefits that this sport offers for runners as an option for cross training. “Rock climbing,” Young explained, “began in England as a means of exploring the world.” Young, who was born in England, shared that climbing became a leisure time for the wealthy to explore, but as mountains became more challenging, people needed the skills to know how to reach the peaks. As exploration continued in the US, people eventually learned free climbing, without aids, instead using their muscle power to climb. Today there are three popular types of climbing – sport climbing, traditional climbing and bouldering. Bouldering, a sport Rands is known for, is a form of rock climbing performed without the use of ropes. Most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure the footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls. “Every climb unfolds a different way, “Rands
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Outdoor climbing walls at High Point provide a challenge for all levels of climbers while taking in the view of downtown Chattanooga. SPRING 2015
37
climbers of all ages can learn the
holds can be changed around to make the problems more
skills and techniques to improve
difficult for climbers.”
their fitness goals. “A rock climbing wall is a modular designed with climbing holds that are attached to
“
the surface,” Young explains. “The
The problem solving involved in rock climbing definitely compliments the mental aspects of running.” - Lisa Rands, Highpoint Climbing and Fitness 38
SPRING 2015
Before you begin rock climbing indoors or outdoors, it is important to learn the necessary climbing safety skills from a qualified rock-climbing instructor. Before beginning a climb, a climber is secured with a safety harness to a climbing rope, which then travels to the second person on the ground called the belayer. The belay ensures the safety of the climber by controlling the tension of the rope; giving or taking, as the climber ascend to the top of the wall. “Rock climbing offers a fun cross-training program beyond just pushing weights,” Rands says. “There’s mental engagement.” Rands, American rock climber,
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chooses running as a means of cross training to climbing. “The problem solving involved in rock climbing definitely compliments the mental aspects of running,” Rand shares.” It really is a fun way to push your body.” Contrary to what many beginners may believe, climbing requires more than just upper body strength. “There’s a misconception with beginners that climbing requires upper body strength,” Rands says. “You will learn to engage your entire body to climb.” Rands mentioned the benefits of problem solving that rock climbing demands, and like running, you will learn mental control along with your improved climbing skills. Additionally, Rands shares other healthy benefits to climbing: BUILDS STRENGTH – Rock climbing uses all of the body’s major muscle groups and if you regularly use climbing as a means of strength training, it will continue to improve your upper body strength, core muscles, and legs. “Bouldering has definitely made my legs stay strong,” Rands shares. “I can tell a difference in my downhill running.” FLEXIBILITY – Rock climbing increases your body’s range of motion. IMPROVES COORDINATION – Rock climbing requires coordination between mind and muscles for problem solving challenges. With every climb, a problem solving challenge awaits. It is up to you to solve the problem and continue without falling. “Climbing helps with coordination, which is especially good for trail runners who want to keep up speed without falling,” Rands says. “For people looking for a healthy alternative for fitness, I think climbing is a perfect fit,” Rands says. “Climbing to me is a great challenge to push through the uncertainty, while maintaining the focus, along with camaraderie
Wills Young and Lisa Rands belaying climbing students at High Point Climbing and Fitness, in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.
with partners I trust!”.
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SPRING 2015
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EMAIL CUSTOMERSERVICE@RUNFORGOD.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION
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41
BEHIND THE SCENES
Love
GOD and Serve Others HIS COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE him as a man of deep faith, someone who is
Hendrix shares how God has been
dedicated, and devoted to Run for God. Mitchell Hollis calls him an advisor, a
in this ministry from the beginning.
mentor, and “the one who first said Run for God was going to be something
“These days people do things by
big.” Although David Hendrix does not have a formal title, he is admired and
their own effort and they fail,”
appreciated by many, but more importantly, he loves God and has a desire to
Hendrix says. “It’s a thrill to witness
serve, which he believes is his calling.
people like Mitchell do things when they spend time following God. It’s a
Hendrix will tell you, firsthand, that he is thrilled to serve behind the scenes,
fact, God’s leadership is going
helping others, rather than standing in the spotlight. “I believe God called me
to prevail.”
to enable others,” he says. “And when I am working for Run for God, I don’t really consider it work. It is just awesome to see God work.”
David Hendrix has been with Run for God since it began in 2010 at
42
Performing tasks behind the scenes along with encouraging others is what
Grove Level Baptist Church. “I
Hendrix enjoys most. There are many projects he completes including setting
was there from the beginning and
up the finish line structure, taking inventory, preparing equipment, and other
knew God had His hand on this
functions that may be required by the Run for God team. “It’s not Run for God
ministry,” he says. Hendrix retired
ministry that excites me, it’s seeing God move,” he says. “Mitchell is following
in 2012 from Grove Level Baptist
God and God is leading this ministry.”
Church after serving 31 faithful
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BEHIND THE SCENES years as the Associate Pastor/
Hendrix says. “If I had to give you a
Minister of Music. “I remember
golden drop of everything in
when Mitchell shared that God
my life, Run for God has given
called him to the Run for God
me perseverance.”
ministry,” Hendrix says. “I knew
“Nothing can be compared to the thrill of serving God, of truly being used by Him to make an eternal difference in the lives of people and advancing His purpose in the world.” -Bill Hybels that God was going to help him
“I have learned that pain is
because this was totally out of
necessary, not fun emotionally
Mitchell’s comfort zone. He was in
or physically, but the rewards are
construction for heaven’s sake.”
greater when you persevere.”
“My role began helping Mitchell get
“Before Run for God, I sold myself
things done at the church,” he says. “I
short,” he says. “When I reached
am no longer involved in the intimate
mile 8 while running my first half
details like I was in the beginning.
marathon, I thought I was going to
Mitchell has a lot of things going on,
die, but I persevered through it.”
WOULD YOU
LIKE TO
VOLUNTEER? We could use your help! Help us make race day easier and safer for our runners by offering your time in one of our volunteer spots! Please contact customerservice@ runforgod.com for upcoming
now that the ministry has grown, but whenever I see his number on my cell,
“The big question I asked myself was
I know it’s priority, and I am on it. I
how many things have I quit because
want to make God and Mitchell proud
of pain? I knew I couldn’t do anything
of everything I do.”
about those things in the past, but I
volunteer opertunities!
could do something about tomorrow – Hendrix was a part of the first Run
persevere to the end,” he says. “It all
for God 5k class at Grove level Baptist
comes down to this: It’s bigger than
Church and shares how Run for God
physical, it’s emotion. It’s a spiritual
has influenced his life. “Run for God
experience to run. You apply what you
to me is deeper than being in shape,”
learn in Run for God to life.”
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43
WhyDEVOTIONS? FINDING GOD IN A RUNNER’S SPACE DEVOTIONS CAME TOGETHER as a result of the
just like you and me; real stories from real people.
outpouring of letters and e-mails that come into
These thoughts and experiences are brought
the Run for God camp each week. These stories
to you from pastors, deacons, Sunday school
of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and Run for God’s role in their lives prompted us to find
teachers, new Christians, old Christians, and even Christians who had lost their way for a time. So if you’re looking for a study that is authored by
a way to preserve these memories. From a desire
a renowned theologian, this isn’t it. But if you’re
to both preserve and share these stories, Devotions
looking for a study that shows what God can do
was born.
through someone just like you and me, then you’ve
This Bible study is not your ordinary study. No, it’s a study that is made up of stories from people
definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re a new runner, a seasoned runner, a fast runner, or a slow runner, this study is for you. Each week we’ll take you through inspiring stories, scripture, running tips and tricks, as well as challenge you with thought provoking questions to ponder. There are also training plans in the back that will cover any distance you desire. Use this for your personal devotion or grab a group of friends and start a small group, either way you can’t go wrong. Enjoy!
52-Week Study • 464 Page Hardback
44
SPRING 2015
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What is a
Virtual Race? THIS IS YOUR RACE, ON YOUR OWN TIME IN YOUR OWN TOWN.
THE CONCEPT OF A “Virtual Race” is that you can participate in a running event from
anywhere in the world. Let’s use the 2014 Run for God – Pinky 5K as an example. Last year runners signed up from all 50 states and many other countries. They registered and trained just as if they were going to attend a physical race. The difference is when race weekend arrives, instead of traveling across the country, runners would mark out a 5K in their own community. It could be on a trail, on the road, or even on a treadmill, it really doesn’t matter. Then, they simply show up, run their 5K, record their own time, post their pictures, and we mail out Goodie Bags complete with race shirt and medal the next week. It’s very simple and completely AWESOME!
WHY A VIRTUAL 5K? For several years now, we have been getting requests from individuals and groups from all over the globe to host a Run for God race in their community. While this is flattering and very tempting, it’s just not possible. This past year we tested the waters with one Virtual Race, and the response was overwhelming. It sold out quicker than any race we’d ever hosted. So, this is a great way for you or your group of friends to get together and run your own race, no matter where you may live.
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