Running in an Ultramarathon

A few Friday's ago, my husband and I were taking our nightly walk at our town's gorgeous local park situated next to the bay.  Following our usual path, we were surprised to come upon one of the fields filled with tents and signs that said, "Ultramarathon".  We continued our walk wondering out loud what it was all about...  My husband had always understood ultramarathon's to be 100 miles!  But he quickly dismissed that thinking that couldn't possibly be what was taking place.

Once my husband and I got to the walkway along the water, we needed to step aside to allow runner after runner safe passage by.   Runners that came in all shapes, sizes and ages; some seeming quite tired already...  A race that had only started 45 minutes earlier...

My curiosity got the best of me and while sitting on a bench watching the runners and the sunset, I googled information about the race.

Indeed it WAS a 100 mile race lasting 24 hours!!  Except for when my son-in-law was in the Marines and completed the 72 hour crucible, an event where the Marine is broken first to build them up to complete, I could not imagine what a toll a 24 hour 100 mile race would take on an average runner, ESPECIALLY when it was so hot out!!

For context, the following excerpt was taken from the Anchor Ultramarathon website describing the details of the race:

"There are 4 different races in the Anchor Down Ultras, which include 6 hour, 12 hour and 24 hour timed events and also a 100 mile event. All 4 races start promptly at 7:00 PM and end respective to their lengh, with the 24 hour event lasting until 7:00 PM on the following day, Saturday. The rules are simple. Run as many loops of the 2.45 mile course as possible in the alloted time. Take a break when you want to, rest when you must, or keep pounding the pavement. You can drop out at any time during the race when and if you've had enough. Only full 2.45 mile loops of the entire course count towards your total distance. Runners will be ranked higher as they cover more and more loops, and time will only be used in the event of a tie."

My husband thought this type of race was genius!  You can actually rest during the race (hence the tents), but you can't leave the race course except to the tent area.   Otherwise, runners would be disqualified.   But what my husband found most interesting was that the race was more about how many loops were completed in a certain amount of time in order to receive a finisher's medal rather than about one racer winning the ultimate prize according to their time.  It was really about an accomplishment of endurance and personal best.

What I found intriguing was the allowance of "pacers" in the ultramarathon.

"Pacers in a race as soul-searching as Anchor Down can be part of your success, and part of the fun. Adventures like this are better with friends... 

The Anchor Down Ultra allow "pacers" in the second half of both the 12 hour and 24 hour events. (No 6-Hour pacers allowed.) In other words, you may have a running friend join you to help you keep pace, make goal and stay in the race.

Pacers may not mule for runners (aka carry their gear.) However, pacers CAN provide shade for a runner (ie umbrella) or wet them down to minimize the effect of the heat."

As darkness set in, we were heading home to settle in for a good night's sleep, leaving behind the runners, headlamps bouncing along the pathway, gearing up to run all night, and some, most of the next day...

I couldn't shake the image.  Where does one find the mental and physical strength to endure such a race?...

...And where does one find the mental and physical strength to endure the ultramarathon of Life?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw

 off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with 

endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and 

perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…

Hebrews 12:1-2

When we allow the world to consume us,  we become heavy laden with the sin of fleshly desire and worldly care.  The world and sin may feel good in the moment, but both cause all manner of mental and physical ailments, sapping our strength and hurting our witness.  

But God's Word tells us to protect that good witness despite our struggles...

 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:23-24

...for His grace will carry us.

Many times we falter and languish in life from the sin of desiring to control it.  We are so focused on self and how we have determined life should go, that we forgot the Author and Protector of our lives has ordained our every step for our good and His glory.   Therefore, we should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus every hour of every day...

For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. 

Isaiah 50:7

 ...for the Lord God will help us.

How often do we forget that we have a Pacer to run the race of life with us, the Holy Spirit.  Like the pacers who came along side the runners in the Anchor Down Ultramarathon, the Holy Spirit is our Pacer who helps us to keep pace, make goals, and stay in the race...  

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness

Romans 8:26a

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for 

he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, 

and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 15:26

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32

...for when we allow the Holy Spirit to encourage and comfort us we are free indeed.  Free to stay on course and run the race of life without encumbrance.

The busyness of life or our own spiritual laziness can rob us of our training time.  Training time in the Word of God... 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 9:23-25

...for the Word shares testimonies of grace upon grace, and mercy upon mercy, the grace and mercy available to those who are in Christ Jesus.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

...For God brings us hope.

 Father God,

Please help me to remember the great cloud of witnesses that have run the race before me for encouragement in my own run.  Holy Spirit help me to fix my eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of my faith.  Lord, help me to guard Your testimony by living my life well, testifying to the love and grace of Christ Jesus.  Father help me to relinquish control of my life and place it in your loving hands.  Lord help me to heed the still small voice whispering, "this is the way, {run} in it".  Holy Spirit move me to be in your Word daily so that I will be fit for the race.  Father help me to live my life in the freedom of Christ, unencumbered, so that I may run the race in a manner to receive the lasting crown.   

In Jesus Name,

Amen

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