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We are finally back and able to send out e mails again. I want to thank all of you for your prayers. You will never know how much strength I received from them.
Last Sunday morning I got to the transition area at 5:00am to get my race number marked on my arms and legs. After doing a once over, OK 4 times over to check my bike I got into my wetsuit and headed to the swim start. Two thousand athletes in an area of less than an acre was quite an amazing sight when that cannon went off. I stayed out of the madness in the middle and after about a mile of swimming it started to thin out. It took me approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to do the swim. After getting out of the water there were people helping us get the wetsuit off. After I finally got mine off it was a 400 yd run to the bike transition area were we got our bike clothes on and headed off into the mountains for 112 miles.
The bike was 2 loops of 56 miles. The last 14 miles of each loop is a climb of about 2000 feet. Needless to say the first loop was much easier than the second loop. The first loop I did in 3 hours and 15 minutes and the second I did in 3 hours and 38 minutes. Total time for the bike was close to 7 hours.
When I finally got off my back after being on it for 7 hours walking was a little difficult. I got into the tent to change into my running clothes and now I thought, “I have to run a marathon!” I finally made my way out onto the course and when I got to mile 2 and I thought “24 miles to go, Yikes!!” There were many personal signs posted along the bike and run route. One particular sign caught my attention. It said “Pain lasts but for a moment, quitting lasts forever”. Who wrote that sign anyway, pain was lasting for more than a moment here!! I can’t tell you how many times I thought about that sign. I was praying for strength around mile 14 and I came upon a girl with a shirt that read
Isaiah 40:31 “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Right at the moment I needed strength the Lord answered. At mile 16 on the run my hamstrings started to cramp up. A young man offered me water and sprinkled salt into it. I didn’t taste too good but it did the trick. At mile 17 we were headed back into town with 9 miles left. I now had to walk at every aid station for Gatorade, water and whatever else would stay down. All of a sudden in the distance I could see the stadium where we were to finish. I knew Julie, Bryce and Chase would be waiting for me at the finish line. As soon as I came in the stadium they were there and they ran the last 100 yards and all 4 of us broke the tape together. My time for the marathon was about 4 hours and 25 minutes. Total time was 12 hours 56 minutes and 25 seconds.
There had to be over 50 times that I thought “Will I make it?” Doubt crept in but your prayers would overshadow that doubt. Whether it was a sign, an encouraging word or that feeling only the Lord can give always came at the right moment.
I COULDN’T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOUR PRAYERS.
I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit lift me up and not be faint when it seemed hopeless. Life is the same way isn’t it? At times the finish line seems so far off that we either want to give up or just put our head down and tread onward without joy. Maybe you are there right now. You see, the journey is the reward as much as crossing the finish line when Jesus will hopefully say “Well done good and faithful servant.” But in the meantime can you enjoy the moment no matter how painful? That is the key to life. There is nothing worse than a Christian without joy. Non believers are looking at us because they are searching. If we don’t have joy what hope do they have who are not saved. Why would they want what we have when we act the same as them without hope? Actually I have seen some non believers with more joy than a believer.
No matter how long the climb, no matter how long the race, no matter how far off the finish line seems pray that we would smile along the way. Pray that we would not be faint or grow weary.
THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH AND OUR HOPE AND OUR JOY AND OUR SALVATION.
Let us start today by living a life that is joyful NO MATTER WHAT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.
We can only do that in the Lords strength but we must do this. We must be joyful and thankful because Jesus paid a horrible price to set us free. Let us live like the finish line is in sight. Let us be strong and joyful in all that we do.
On the picture above at 12:56:25 you can see us come across and see the power of your prayers.
Have a great day and again, thank you for your prayers
Brad
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