Last October I looked through my roommate's Runner’s World where I found an advertisement for a marathon. An epiphany came to me that 26 miles would be a perfect distance to run for my 26th birthday. Well, I looked at a training plan and realized 12 weeks wasn’t sufficient for me at that current physical state to run a full marathon, but I could half it to run 13.1 miles. Since 13 is my favorite number, I saw this as a perfect starting point before the full meal-deal. I run the ½ marathon in a week on January 17 in Phoenix, AZ.
As crazy as this sounds to many of my dearest friends, many of whom are grateful they get to make pancakes for my post-hour-long-run breakfast, I have a deeper motivation and hopefully an inspiration to share. One of my favorite scripture verses is found in Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?” This verse compels me to run, not because my feet are pretty, but because of what I can do by moving from point A to point B. I can spread the good news about Christ. Lately I’ve been trying to make it through training for this first long race. It’s only by the strength and sometimes distraction of Jesus that allows me to finish a 7-mile workout. But I know this gift of running and honed discipline is for more than just making me look good. It’s to make Jesus look good.
I am determined to finish the ½ marathon as the first step toward running 26.2 miles in the next 5 months. I have not chosen a marathon yet, but I have chosen the reason for running. To have beautiful feet bringing good news. How will I accomplish this? For each mile I run during training I am going to save $0.26. For the marathon itself, I would like to gather sponsors to pledge for each mile. A dollar a mile is $26. This money will fund an educational mission trip this summer.
I have a strong desire and calling not only to spread the good news myself, but also to include other beautiful feet. Ever since I went to Colorado as a 13 year-old on my first mission trip, I discovered that visiting other cultures, learning from the people and investing in their lives was deeply important to the work done by the body of Christ. On top of that, I realize more and more that many people never have an opportunity or the encouragement to learn about God’s world from the experiential perspective. How beautiful will those feet be in the red Ugandan dirt? How warm will they feel in the El Salvadorian sand? I must know and I desperately want others to know, first hand and foot.
If anyone cares to join me in this venture, run alongside as a cyber running buddy and/or make a pledge to the Beautiful Feet Fund, I greatly appreciate it. Stay tuned for more details. I believe our endeavors will be richly blessed because we are promised beauty even on some of the grossest, smelliest parts of our body just by sharing good news of love, hope and peace. Nothing is too crazy for God.
If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, the triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise. ~P.Z. Pearce
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