Strive to Make Headway

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 BSB

In a story titled “Sydney Marathon could become a World Marathon Major in 2025,” it was reported that the Sydney Marathon is making strong headway in its bid to become an Abbott World Marathon Major. The marathon – which is the largest in the southern hemisphere – has passed its first assessment in its attempt to join the series and will now proceed to the second stage of the candidacy process… If successful in its second assessment in 2024, the Sydney Marathon will be part of an additional awards programme for runners achieving more than six stars. That’s good news for them right? 

And you know, when it comes to making strong headway in a bid to become something worthwhile, the Bible is very clear that our highest calling is to know Jesus and our greatest pursuit is to be like Him—something we are powerless to do on our own. Thankfully, though, God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” That means, by His strength, you and I are fully equipped to live godly lives but must still put in the work to achieve it. 

So seek to grow in understanding of who God is through regular Bible study, prayer, and fellowship my friend. Pursue a relationship with Him above all else and you’ll soon find that you’ve become a man or a woman after God’s own heart. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need to grow in godliness through your divine power. Help us to make knowing You fully, exhaustively, and completely our greatest desire, and one that we will pursue with all our might until the day we are in your presence. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Look out for Chance Meetings

“But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion.“ Luke 10:33 BSB

“So grateful for the day Melissa just happened to go for a run with a group that included Dan! That chance meeting has been a blessing to literally hundreds of kids in Pulaski County. Sometimes those chance meetings aren’t really “chance!” Thank you, Melissa, for showing love to all those kids. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!” Those were the words my dear friend Gayla Wells wrote after the completion of another OneSolePurpose Pulaski County Project (this time for Crocker Elementary) Friday—a project that began after asking the Lord to provide a way to meet our need for shoes in our area and having that prayer answered in the form of partnering with the OneSolePurpose Project that Dan Wells and his wife started so many years ago. Do you just love that or what? 

And you know, when it comes to “chance” meetings, the Bible is very clear that God intersects the paths of people (especially His children) to help them in times of need. Consider the story of the man who was beaten, robbed, and left for dead as he traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho. Both a priest and a Levite passed the injured man. But (and this is where it gets good) “when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion.” The Samaritan ‘just happened’ to be on the same road at the same time as the unnamed man and made sure that he received the healing care he needed. 

Friends, we’re all on a journey from this life to the next. And while we’re on it, we would all do well to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit who prompts us to go this way or that way so that we won’t miss out on any “chance” meetings. It may seem crazy (as it did for me when I drove to Springfield for a training run I could have done at home and ‘just happened’ to run into Dan) but go where you are called, when you are called to go there. I promise that you won’t regret it. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for arranging the paths of Your children to intersect with the paths of those who might have a need that we can fill or have a way to fill a need that we have. Help us to recognize Your voice by having a relationship with You through the pages of the Bible. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Pray for Discernment

“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” 1 Kings 3:9 NIV

In a story published by Click2Houston earlier this week that’s becoming all too common, it was reported that a 32-year-old woman was out for a morning run in her Houston Heights neighborhood Monday when a man in a white van approached her from behind and grabbed her shirt. She says the man was attempting to pull her closer to him, but she was able to get away. The incident happened in broad daylight, around 9:15 a.m. on Monday. The woman immediately filed a report with the Houston Police Department. “It’s sad, because normally I don’t really hear about a lot of things happening on that side of town and in broad daylight,” said Dalia Harris who was out for a walk. The writer went on to list several safety suggestions including: Trust your intuition: If something doesn’t feel right, you may be in danger. Avoid a person or area if it feels unsafe.

And you know, when it comes to intuition or the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning, Solomon was wise to ask for a “discerning heart… to distinguish between right and wrong” when God offered to give him whatever he asked for. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us that give us this priceless knowledge as well, knowledge that’s both in the heart and in the head—protecting us, teaching us, and guiding us through the pages of the Bible and through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

So the next time you feel led to go this way or that, or to avoid a person or a situation, take heed my friend.  Earnestly pray for discernment as you wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal your next step. This is the only way to avoid danger and remain on the right path. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the discernment You provide through Your Word, through prayer, and through the Holy Spirit. Help us to seek You and to listen for Your voice at all times so that we would be able to distinguish right from wrong. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Seek the Lord and Let the Fear Go

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:3,4 NIV

In a harrowing article titled “Security cameras capture runner being followed in terrifying ordeal” published Monday, runner and mother-of-six Shanna Birchett shared the frightening experience of being followed by an unknown vehicle with tinted windows while out on her morning run (in an area that was considered very safe) recently—an experience that most likely would have had disastrous consequences if an elderly homeowner in her neighborhood hadn’t answered Shanna’s desperate knock at the door and let her in. While the incident on Nov. 3 is over and Birchette is safe home, what happened has had a lasting emotional impact that she said is going to take some time to heal from. “When I watched the videos, that's when it really hit," she said. "I remember those feelings so vividly and seeing the footage confirmed to me that the driver was stalking me and they did not have good intentions. There are a lot of times when I am mad because, in a matter of seconds, this person stole my safety and peace of mind," she continued. "They stole my love for running and it was hard for me to get back out there. Birchette went on to say that she has learned a lot from the incident, and hopes to start a conversation about people protecting themselves. 

And you know, when it comes to learning a lot from incidents such as this, incidents where the enemy tries to harm us, we would all do well to remember that the fear these failed attacks leave behind can be debilitating. That’s what fear does though. It keeps us from doing the things we love and from serving Christ as we are called to do. Which is the very reason every believer must earnestly seek the Lord when they are frightened or scared—remembering that the One who delivered David from “all” his fears (he was being pursued and hunted down by Saul and his army when he wrote this) will deliver them as well. 

So if you’ve been holding on to fear from a past trauma that’s been keeping you from moving on, I pray that you can let it go my friend. I know from experience that it won’t be easy (believe me when I say this, and it may not be instantaneous) to do this, but with the help of the Lord you can live in victory and go on to “exalt His name” (as I do now) for hearing your cry and delivering you from all your fears. God is so good like that. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we have no reason to fear when You are the Lord of our lives. Although we are to be vigilant, sober and alert at all times since evil is always lurking, help us to do so with confidence knowing that fear has no place in the life of a believer so that we can be obedient to anything and everything You call us to do. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Bring on the 5k

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about a distance that rarely gets the attention it deserves... the 5k. This was something I was thinking about after seeing my social media feed blow up on Thursday with pictures and posts about the various 3.1 mile Turkey Trots that took place all over the nation.... images of smiling runners of all ages and abilities intent on having fun while burning off a very small portion of the calories they would consume later. According to RunSignup, 2023 Turkey Trot participation shattered records so it wasn't just my feed that was blown up. On that registration site alone, 920,761 people participated in 833 races across the country and raised more than $1.9 million dollars for charities. That represented record-shattering participation on the platform, with an increase of more than 160,000 compared to the previous record set in 2022. And if the current trend continues, there will be even more in 2024! Wow right?

With that being said, there are lots of good reasons for putting the 5k race on your calendar throughout the year. One of which is, it's the best distance to do when you're short on time and it's a great distance to enjoy with the whole family. And don't discount the awesome speedwork workout you'll gain from competing with other runners for that portion of your marathon or half training. That's something every runner can appreciate. 

But don't just take my word for it, check out what professional 5000 meter runner Lauren Fleshman had to say about it and the 10 reason she says the 5k is awesome:

With a growing obsession over distance races, and a focus on completion rather than competition, 5Ks have somehow lost a lot of their allure. They have become little more than a gateway drug for marathons. The prevailing mentality is to go longer and longer and longer, until one day you find yourself down six toe-nails, dressed head to toe in compression gear, contemplating your first 50-K ultra over a morning bowl of chia seeds. Stop! Listen to me. The 5K is awesome. It encourages you to develop a combination of endurance, speed, and strength. You can train for it and still have a life. You can race one every weekend and still be able to walk normally. If people ran more 5Ks, I'm positive the average life satisfaction of humans would increase dramatically.

And without further ado, here are the 10 reasons Lauren says the 5k is awesome (*with my two cents thrown in of course):

10. Fitness

Shorter interval work is more effective than long-distance runs for weight management and gaining fitness. Interval training won't set you up to run a great marathon, but it will make you a baller at the 5K, an event that requires strength, speed, power, and endurance combined. By making the 5K your focus, your training plan will actually line up with what's best for your overall health. Excuse me, what? Yes.

9. Travel

With 5Ks being readily available within driving distance, you don't have to fly around the country to do one. Racing is a cool excuse to travel, but you know what's even better? Traveling without racing. You can actually walk places and see things without limping, eat whatever you want, and spend a significantly smaller portion of your trip on the toilet.

*In longer races, you'll need to pack for the changing race day conditions and take along everything that you might need. This takes lots of time to prepare. Which is why the 5k is a great option. A person can easily get through the race without food, water, or any other supply besides clothing. Which means you can travel much lighter. 

8. Doctors' Bills

Overuse injuries go hand in hand with marathon training. Sure, you can get injured doing 5Ks too, but with less overall mileage and workouts that involve a greater variety of paces, you'll be more likely to stay healthy. More running days per year = happy runners with more money = a healthy global economy = World Peace.

*So as a general rule I’ll agree with this but remember, chasing a PR without a proper warmup can lead to injuries as well. 

7. Free Time

What will you do with your weekends when you aren't destroyed from running three-and-a-half hours?

*As long as you don't spend your time off from running watching running or sitting back dreaming about it, the sky is the limit to make an impact in your community. Use your free time to volunteer in your community or to do something meaningful with your family. You'll all reap the benefits. 

6. Nipple Health

There is no nipple bleeding.

*I have nothing to add to this one. 

5. Budget

5Ks are cheaper, and you still get a stale bagel and a green banana and only have to run one-eighth as far.

*5k races are not only good for your budget and fun but great for the community since most of these runs are nonprofit and give money to local causes. 

4. Competition vs. Completion

The satisfaction in a marathon comes with completion under duress. You reach the point where you aren't sure you will finish, and then somehow you do. It's an amazing feeling, but it's only one way to experience racing. In a 5K, you know that you are going to finish. Satisfaction comes instead from competing: against yourself, the clock, and others in an intense, concentrated period of time. This adds a whole new depth and richness to your running, regardless of your speed.

3. Mulligans

Getting derailed in a marathon due to inclement weather, travel mishaps, poo-poo problems, or just having an off day can cost you 16 weeks of training and traveling somewhere far away for another attempt. If you screw up the 5K, you can just get in your car and try again next week. Boom.

2. The Humanity

When you hit the wall in a 5K, it hurts a lot, but it's over faster than it takes to make a cappuccino. Literally. I timed it.

1. Style

No fuel belts. No water bottles. No gels or blocks or powders or bars. No shorts with 30 pockets. No Vaseline stains. You can run a 5K in jorts with nary a chafe. 5K for the win. Who's with me?

*This distance is not only the very best one to try out a new costume, but is a welcome break for those runners training for long distances who have been wearing hydration vests and packing supplies. As one of those, I’ll tell you that the 5k is a freeing race! It’s a time to break loose and just run!

So there you have it friends. Those are all great reasons to put a few 5ks on your racing calendar. As an ultra runner looking to gain some more speed in 2024 (I actually started using 5ks earlier this year for that purpose and have seen great results!), this is something that I'm actually looking forward to. My goal is to run them as fast as I can and continue saving the intervals for the long runs. We shall see how that goes. Either way, I'll be enjoying every 5k (and I hope you will too) in my future knowing that running, regardless of the distance and speed, is always an undeserved blessing from the Creator. Does that make you smile or what? So get signed up for a few of them today! You’ll be glad you did. 

Happy Running!

Don’t be a Fair Weathered Follower

“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 NLT

In a story titled “Kenyan runner creates new record for Shanghai Marathon” published Sunday, it was reported that fine weather helped Kenyan runner Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba to create a new record of 2:05:35 for the Shanghai Marathon. Some 38,000 runners from home and abroad set off from the Bund on Sunday morning. The previous record was created by Kipchumba's compatriot Paul Lonyangata in 2015, who completed the 42-kilometer race in 2:07:14. This is also the best men's record among all marathon events in China. "This is my first visit to Shanghai," said the 25-year-old Kenyan. "The course is beautiful and the weather is just perfect, helping me to creating a new record."

And you know, when it comes to fine weather, we as believers must be determined to follow Jesus no matter how difficult it might become. In other words, we can’t be fair-weathered Christians who follow Him only when the conditions are perfect or exactly to our liking. You see, in Jesus’ day just as in ours, there are people who ‘believe’ in Him as long as they are seeing miracles and being fed (aka getting something without any commitment or sacrifice). But after Jesus explained that it was all done to point to the spiritual truth that He was the Son of God and that there was no other way to heaven barring a total and complete commitment to Him, many of the so-called disciples “turned away and deserted him.” Then and now, only those who, like Peter, understand and wholeheartedly believe that eternal life is found in no one but the “Holy One of God” will stay. 

So if you were to asked to rate your level of committedness today, what would it be? If your answer was anything but fully and totally devoted, you’re in a dangerous place my my friend, because fair-weathered followers won’t make it to heaven. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word that tells us exactly what it takes to make it to heaven, and that’s a full and total commitment to Jesus Christ. If any person reading this has not fully surrendered their life to You, I pray that today is the day they will do it so they will inherit the eternal life that only You can give. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Marry the Best

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 NKJV

In a story titled “Couple gets married just before running Thanksgiving Day Manchester Road Race,” it was reported that more than 10,000 people ran the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day and the day was especially special for one couple who got married just before running the race. Nithyalakshmi Kannan, of East Hartford, has been running the road race since 2012 and her now-husband, David, started running it with her when they started dating a few years ago.“When I told him that I run the Manchester Road Race religiously, he was like, ‘OK, I will run with you.’ And I was like, 'It’s a costume race and I had been running in many different costumes,'” she said. Five years ago, they decided their costume would be the “Runaway Bride,” and Kannan ran in a secondhand dress that she found. Then last year, Tom Topping saw them taking pictures and said that if they were ever interested in actually getting married, he’d be happy to officiate.About 45 minutes before the race began, they got married with Topping as the officiant… The newly married couple said this event was the best spot to get married at. “And this is the best woman to get married to,” David said. Do you just love that or what? 

And you know, when it comes to finding the “best woman to get married to,” King Lemuel, inspired by the utterances of his mother, righfully concluded that the worth of a virtuous wife “is far above rubies.” Lemeul then went on to share the qualities a man should look for when marrying a woman and the benefits of finding a partner who showed high moral standards and conducted herself in a noble way. No doubt, according to the king, this woman was so rare that once found she should be highly prized, admired, and appreciated. And while this passage is traditionally understood as being addressed to women, it is more accurately spoken by a mother to a son for instruction on knowing the character and potential character of a good wife before marriage, and then valuing and praising that wife for her virtuous character once married.

So knowing the priceless worth of finding a woman who loves the Lord with all her heart and desires to serve Him by serving her husband and her family, young men should take care to choose a virtuous wife. Likewise women should do their best to exemplify the woman in Proverbs 31 so that they will also choose wisely and attract the right man. I can assure you that they will both be eternally grateful for having done so. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Bible that has the answers to all life’s questions and problems. In a world where the divorce rate is skyrocketing, help us to teach the younger generation the importance of finding a godly spouse, and being a a godly spouse. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!