100 Mile Quest

I have been running most of my life but have never run close to 100 miles in one outing. This will be the hardest and most challenging test of physical and psychological endurance of my life.

As I have begun to share my goal with people, I get a lot of interesting responses and questions. Won’t it hurt? YES! It will hurt like a “bleep!” I’ll be hurting for hours. I may get sick, have digestive issues, cramp up constantly, suffer major chafing, feel super weak, get dehydrated, and so on...but I am committed to doing it anyways.

Yet, the question most people want to know is, “Why?”

My life has always had challenges and there have always been different types of pain. Some of the pain has been physical but most of it has been psychological. It has taken a long time for me to overcome many things like depression, anxiety, and shame. I find that even today, I am still growing, learning, and getting stronger. I find that growing, learning, and getting stronger can be painful because it involves pruning, molding, refining, and being disciplined.

I know I’ll learn a lot about myself as I attempt this 100 mile journey whether I finish or I don’t. Running is never easy, no matter the distance. When you’re training, the workouts actually break your body and mind down. That can be painful and exhausting. However, in the recovery process your body and mind can come back stronger than ever.

I wonder what my wife, kids, and friends will learn as they watch or follow me on this quest.

Then there is the main reason I am running 100 miles to begin with: our adoption! I think of that “little one” that we are going to adopt. Fighting through 100 miles for him or her is well worth it! I love that child more than 100 miles! I’ll be thinking of and praying for that child on this run a lot.

Lastly, I think of all the people who can’t run at all but would give anything to be able to. I run with them on my heart as well.

In the end, running 100 miles can have benefits for me but the main reason I run is for adoption and for others. I hope we can all understand that each of us is capable of more than we could ever imagine. I hope people can be inspired not by what I can do but by what they can do! Our world needs committed people ready to take on very difficult challenges.

So, one step at a time. Each mile represents commitment, determination, patience, perseverance, faith, hope, and most importantly...love. These are the reasons I will try to run 100 miles.

Please join me - there are so many ways to be part of the team! Pray, come out and encourage me along the route, run the last couple of miles with me, or sponsor each mile for our adoption! I hope you will each take on whatever challenge is set before you as well!