The neatest thing about this race was something that happened just before the race began. I was finished with my stretching and had moved to the starting area for the race and thinking about the run ahead, how I would do, and that kind of stuff. And then I hear a voice coming from behind me quoting James 1:3 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance). WHAT?
And that's when the blessing happened - I met Jeff Mills, a fellow believer from Locust Grove, Georgia who had noticed my shirt (I had worn my shirt for our running group at our church) and blessed me with some encouragement just before the race began. Then we started talking about our race this day - me the 10K and Jeff was running the half marathon. It also gave me an opportunity to share with him about my running of the half marathon in two weeks to raise money for Samaritan's Purse and how God had blessed me with the response from so many wonderful people to support getting clean water to the families of Uganda.
The race began - Jeff on his way in the half and me in the 10K. And as I ran, I couldn't help but think about how God has not given all of us the same course to run in this life. What is for sure, regardless of the course God has chosen for each of us is that there will be times of trial. And God's purpose when those trials come along is always the same - that we will gain perseverance (endurance) and through them we will be conformed to the likeness of His Son.
Thank You, Jeff Mills for a word well spoken!
Oh yeah, I finished the race in 58:10, more than SEVEN minutes faster than last time!
9 Michael Ogles 173 106 54 58:10 9:23 Adairsville GA
Jeff finished the half in 2:35:15 with a 11:52 min/mile pace. Way to go Jeff!
On to Atlanta and the half marathon on March 20!
