His First Marathon

Passing the 26 mile mark. Almost there!

Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon...
Just a few days ago, my best preacher friend ran his first marathon on the streets of Louisville, KY. He was one of the 18,000 people that jammed the streets that beautiful Saturday morning. Some walked, while others ran. Some did the full marathon, while the majority did the mini (13.1 miles). Not everyone that started, finished. But everyone that started was a winner. Within sight of the finish line, an elderly runner stumbled on the bracket of a sign that was close to the roadway. He went down hard, skinning his knees and his hands. Other runners helped him up and he brushed the cinders from his wounds and then he began to run again. The crowd watching erupted in cheers and applause. I began to flick the tears away hoping no one saw me. Way to go old guy!


Dave, my friend, spent the next few days with me preaching a revival at my church. He was hurting but that did not slow him down in the pulpit and he did a fine job. The Monday morning following the marathon, he suggested that I go with him on a little recovery walk. He'd go slow he said because he was still hurting but I think he was worried I wouldn't go if he didn't go slow.  We did 4 miles at about a 15 mpm pace and enjoyed the morning. The whole time, we talked and I tried to do what I hope will be the first of many interview runs through the streets of Madison. 


Jeff: What kept you motivated while you were training for the marathon? 


Dave: The entrance fee (laughing). I paid the fee and I made a commitment. If you go ahead and pay the fee, you have an investment there. 


Jeff: There were other things also...


Dave: Sure, there was the commitment to my training program. I'd run in some of the worst weather to stay with the program. Then I'd learn better technique, going up hills became easier. I bought the right kind of shoes. I started taking time off my runs. 


Jeff: Yes...


Dave: I read Runner's World. Bought books. I started watching marathons being run on TV. You know I lost 100 lbs. since I started running? From a couch potato to a marathon runner in a year!


J: From a zero to a hero. (smiling) Did you run in the same place? Or different routes? 


D: Different. I like running in neighborhoods. I like looking at the houses, the scenery, something different. But running in the same place helps me to not have to think about the pavement, direction or worry about where I am. Then I think about the ministry, my church. I do some of my best praying while I'm running. 


When you run the same route, you can gauge your improvement a little easier. There were times I ran at a school track, I did hill work. 


J: Have you found a good place to run in Clarksville? (He recently moved to Clarksville, TN.)


D: Oh yeah, there's a great greenway in town. One of those rails to trails deals. It's beautiful. I'm going to love running there. It's about 9 miles out and back. Plenty for me. 


J: Before you ran this marathon, you told me this would be the only one. No more. Have you changed your mind?


D: You know, you need to run a marathon with me. Maybe you do the half, while I'm doing the full. (He mentioned some other fellows that I knew that had said they would run one with him.)


J: Maybe...


D: There's one in Indianapolis, Oct. 20th. I'll send you a training plan. 


J: Ok, I'll do it. 


We talked about a lot of things that day. Iron sharpening iron. I am making the commitment though to run in the 17th annual COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK INDIANAPOLIS MARATHON on October 20th. All I need to do now is pay the entrance fee.