Well, faithful friends...this is most likely going to be my last blog before race day on December 13th. Sorry I wasn't much of a consistent blogger, there are just other - in my opinion - worthier endeavors I'm trying to be more consistent at! But it has been fun to post some of my training experiences and thoughts and to hear back from you at times...so thanks for the encouragement!
Let me catch you up on my latest and greatest running feats:
On Saturday November 14, I headed out to White Rock Lake for an afternoon run by myself (and my ipod loaded with Matt Chandler sermons). I was going for 18 miles. 16 miles and 2 hours and 40 minutes later my ankles gave out and that was it...I found myself limping in the dark with only the sound of crickets to accompany me...and I was still 2 miles from my truck! That was a long and slow 2 mile walk and a hard dose of reality to swallow. 16 miles. 10.2 miles short of my goal.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday Daniela and I headed out to warmer, sunnier southern California to celebrate the holiday with my brother and his family. They live close to a large and natural creek bed that runs for miles through their city with a running/walking track on both sides so I showed up out there ready to run. All in all by the end of that week I had completed 3 more half marathons (increasing my total to 6) and on the final weekend my brother headed out with me for one final long distance run. My brother who is 5 years older than me and in great shape himself busted out 9 miles that morning with me before heading home and that inspired me to go another 9 for a total of 18 miles in 3 hours exactly...I finished that day with my ankles still in-tact. Not long after finishing I regretted not going for 20 miles, but I felt much better about my chances on race day when not only will 1000s of other runners be joining me, but most importantly Alan, my brother in Christ and fellow competitor will be pushing me to keep up (he's done the White Rock once before). So I'm counting on the fellowship - excitement - and adrenaline to get me another few miles and then eventually it's going to take nothing less than an angel of the Lord to carry me across that finish line!
Taking it easy this week in preparation. I spoke at Arlington Chinese Baptist Church this past Sunday morning and at the end of my message I decided to go ahead and announce the marathon and pledge opportunity. I actually hesitated doing so just because it was so last minute and I knew the church was committed to and involved in some other charity events, but I made my announcement and afterwards my wife placed the sign-up sheet on a table as we sat down for lunch and fellowship. About 30 minutes later a brother in the church came over and asked me where the sign-up sheet was and we walked over to the table together to find it missing. Then someone raised it up in the air at another table and once the sheet had been handed back to me it had been completely filled...with pledges totaling over $500. Way to go ACBC!!!
Thank you Father for all you've done - all you're doing - and all you're going to do!!!
Tomorrow night our whole running team is meeting at church for worship - fellowship - prayer and pizza. We'll be sporting our team running bibs and going over all the rules and logistics involved...at this point I just hope and pray all of our relay runners can get to where they need to be and find their way back home when its all over! :)
I'll post our new team photo tomorrow night. USE THESE FINAL DAYS TO POINT PEOPLE TO OUR WEBSITE (www.LivingAmongThem.com) AND ROUND UP SOME FINAL PLEDGES!
Blessings in Christ!
Marc
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