Air Force Marathon
theophilus September 22nd, 2008
This past Saturday, at about 8:30am, presented a beautiful and perfect morning; and I found myself 90 seconds from the start of the Air Force Half-Marathon.
It was my second half-marathon; the first was in January down at Disney World. This race was different because I did my first half-marathon with about half the training that I was supposed to do and I didn’t know what to expect during the race. I had decided to do a run/walk in that one (I ran for 4 minutes and walked for one). The goal was for me to finish and I was satisfied that I came in two minutes ahead of my goal time.
But for this half-marathon, I decided to do all of the training I was supposed to do. I set an achievable but still aggressive time goal. And I decided that I was going to run the entire 13.1 miles.
So, on Saturday morning, 90 seconds before the gun, I looked at the F-22 Raptor flying overhead (this was the Air Force) and I decided to give myself over to the Holy Spirit. And wow, did the Holy Spirit ever deliver.
I had a pace chart on my wrist to help me keep the pace I needed to finish under my goal time. After Mile 1, I was 10 seconds ahead; at mile 3, the spread was 3 minutes; at mile 8, the spread had grown to 6 minutes; and it was about at this point that I realized that not only was I going to finish this race without having to walk, but that I was going to shatter my goal time. The pace chart became useless even when I slowed a bit between miles 9 & 10. And then at mile 11, I kicked it into a different gear and started running with perfect form, perfect pace, every part of my body working in a divinely inspired rhythm.
The finish at the Air Force Half/Full Marathon is under the museum planes lined along an old runway at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. As I turned the corner to go under these old warbirds and head for home, I felt myself getting faster and faster. I came upon a sprint that I had not felt for twenty years. I now know how Peter and John must have felt sprinting through the streets of Jerusalem to Christ’s tomb on Easter morning. My sprint was that Spirit driven.
I handily beat my goal; I shattered my time from Disney. I had ascended physical heights that I had never before envisioned.
And now, I turn my attention to the Disney FULL Marathon in January. And for the first time, I truly believe I can do it.
I’m an athlete in my mind only. I’m a sports nut and have played baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, etc. but it was always for fun; never for serious competition. For some reason, God has turned me on to running at middle age. I ran my first mile 20 months ago and now I’m in the top 20% of my age group in a major long-distance race.
For some reason, God has presented this challenge to me and given me the discipline, drive, perseverence and ability to achieve my goals. I had a ball Saturday. I felt truly alive. I felt the Holy Spirit coursing through me. The entire 13.1 miles was a prayer to God; a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
26.2 miles? Bring it on; the Lord will be with me!
