The day of the Canton Half Marathon finally arrived! Congrats to all runners and volunteers! My mindset going in was an: “I’m as-ready-as-I’ll ever-be.” I didn’t train as extensively as I had hoped, but I was able to get enough long runs in that I felt confident I could finish. My run was dedicated to my dad. We have had some very taxing days as we’ve witnessed my dad decline with the return of his cancer, so it was an emotional race as I thought of him. Some observations along the 13.1 mile run:
I saw a woman with a cute belly with a note pinned on her shirt that said “Baby #6 on Board.” Woah! Amazing.
I saw a man that looked to be in his 40’s, running with his father who looked to be in his 70’s. It was a beautiful sight to see them pacing each other, and to see this elderly gentleman strong enough to run a half marathon with his boy on Father’s Day.
I took a detour to high five the nuns at the House of Loreto Nursing Home (which was a highlight indeed)!
When you are on the course, there is no shortage of things to pray for. I pray for general prayer intentions, or dedicate each mile to a person or need. The Lord blessedly brings to the surface certain prayers when are struggling physically! These are a few of them:
-Thanking God for my strong lungs, esophagus, and heart and praying for anyone (like my dad) with Lung Cancer or Emphysema or asthma where each breath is a struggle.
-Praying for military veterans who have been wounded and their recovery (physically and mentally) and their families
-Thanking God that my body is strong and praying for victims of human trafficking or abuse whose bodies are used and abused and they are in need of rescue
-Thanking God for my legs and feet and praying for those who are paralyzed and struggle to accomplish tasks we take for granted. They they will be given strength and assistance
-For those who are suffering, alone, and don’t know Jesus. That they will cry out and be comforted by the ultimate Healer, Friend, Father and Savior
-Thanking God for my mind that gives me the understanding of how to set goals, push, and accomplish. Praying for those with mental disease or disability that God will bring them peace and freedom.
-Thanking God for a safe community to run in, and a country where we can feel secure. Praying for persecuted Christians, and all who live in fear
Those are just a few prayer intentions but more than anything it was for my dad. For his soul to be prepared, for him to be liberated from his suffering and for him to know how much he is LOVED, admired, prayed for and appreciated. In the end, I finished at 2:09:37.
Not my best time, but oh so happy to cross that Finish Line!:)
I had to stop during the race and use the Porta-John and that 5 minutes of waiting in line I never recovered from. I was upset about it, but in the end, there was really nothing I could do (when ya gotta go…:)). So, I celebrate that time and will still have something to shoot for next time! And, I knew dad would be proud, which was all that mattered. Congratulations to ALL runners, participants and volunteers of the Canton Marathon! Good job, it was an inspiring day!
This one’s for you dad.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s, and father figures that are so deserving of recognition today.
Congrats! Way to go. I love the individual prayer intentions for each mile you ran. Beautiful witness. And you look so very healthy and beautiful!
I ran a 20k in my Dad's memory a couple years ago, too. Such a cathartic, healing, and edifying time for me – both the training runs and the race itself. I spent much time in prayer. I want … need … to get back to that place.
So thanks for giving me a nudge to "keep running the race with perseverance." There is a half-marathon here in Des Moines this fall that I think is calling my name. Godspeed!
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