2007 Marshall University Marathon

On Sunday I finished my 2nd marathon (26.2 mile race) in 4 weeks in completing the 4th Annual Marshall University Marathon in Huntington, West Virginia, on November 4, 2007.  I completed the Portland Marathon in Portland, Oregon, on October 7, 2007.  This was the first time I have run back to back marathons.  It is my 3rd marathon overall.

I love the Marshall University Marathon.  I ran it last year as my first marathon.  It is a great marathon to run with a a nice flat course and a stadium finish.  It's also meaningful to me as I graduated from there and grew up there remembering the Marshall plane crash like it was yesterday.  We are Marshall!

An additional plus in running the Marshall Marathon is that I get to see my family.  That means a lot to me especially living 2,500 miles away from them planting a new church in Oregon, the most unchurched state in the nation.  Stop by and see us if you are ever in Oregon.  In the meantime, please make sure and visit our Internet campus. 

Why am I running a marathon a month?  I'm trying to change our world and make a difference in our day.  Will you join me?  Everyone knows someone affected by heart disease or stroke. For those I love, I am helping the American Heart Association (AHA) fight the nation's leading causes of death. My goal is to raise $10,000 for the AHA by running a marathon a month through April 2008 if need be.  As of the completion of the Marshall University marathon, precious and giving people have donated $1,495 to the AHA in helping me reach my goal.   That is 15% of my goal.   My next marathon will be the Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon, in Dallas, Texas, on December 9, 2007.

I didn't develop any blisters this time as I did in the Portland marathon.  I used plenty of Vaseline on my feet and toes prior to putting my running socks on.  The toe that I lost the nail on in the Portland marathon didn't bother me at all. 

I felt strong starting the marathon and had a pace through mile 13.1 that would have beat my personal record by seven minutes.  Around mile 13, I developed a sharp pain on the outside of my left ankle that continually grew more severe.  By mile 23, the pain was unbearable and everything within me wanted to stop, but I couldn't.  I kept reminding myself that I was doing this to save lives while I pressed toward the finish line.  My personal pain was worth it if I can help someone live as a result.  I missed my personal record by 5 minutes, but I beat my Portland marathon time of four weeks ago by 18 minutes.  My official time was 4:42:15.  Not bad for an old man with just 4 weeks of recovery between marathons.

I caught a cold on the flight home Monday.  I couldn't hardly stand to walk on my left ankle and it was quite a task walking to make my connecting flight in Cincinnati for the 5 hour non stop flight to PDX.  I hit my chair as soon as I got to our house in Oregon, propped up my feet and made ice my friend.  I have five weeks to recover and will start with a 3 mile run tomorrow and Friday as I continue my recovery, training and conditioning.  I need to be back on schedule with a 7 mile run on Monday.  Say a prayer for my runny nose and my ankle.  I can't afford any downtime.

I want to thank my brother JC and his wife Ellen for coming from Lexington, Kentucky, to get me to the start and back from the finish.  Thanks Ellen for taking pictures.  Thanks to my sister Ramona and her husband Chuck for being there from start to finish, even though my sister was not physically able to do so.  Thanks to my niece Angela and my great nieces, Hope and Grace, for being at the finish.  Thanks to my mother in law, Roslyn Foster for being at the finish.  Thanks to Denise Springer, Regional Director for the AHA, for coming out to see me finish.  And most of all thanks to my precious Mom and Dad who God used to make it all possible!  God has given me great parents and I thank Him for it often.

It was good to get home and see my wife (Becky), children (Austin and Kelsey) and cats (Princess and Kirby).  I always miss them when I'm gone.

Enjoy some pictures below!

5 AM on race day comes early!  I decided to wear my 2007 Portland Marathon finisher's shirt.  I received a lot of comments on it during the race.

Me with my Mom and Dad prior to the start.

Me with JC and Ellen prior to the start.

My sister Ramona surprised me by being at the start.

I'm off at the start ecstatic with my family being there!

 

I'm getting ready to cross the finish line after 26.2 miles and score my second touchdown in the Marshall University football stadium in the last two years.

It meant a lot to me for Denise Springer to take time out of her busy schedule to come to Huntington to see me finish.  Denise is the Regional Director of the AHA.  Denise is one of my heroes that is spending her life making a difference in our day.  Thanks Dennis for all that you do for others!

Dr. Thomas Dannals, Marshall University Race Founder, Race Director, founder of www.HealthyHuntington.org and my dad's doctor. Dr. Dannals is one of my heroes that is spending his life making a difference in our day.  Thanks Dr. Dannals for all that you do for others!

Getting interviewed for an article by Jason Hager, Parthenon Reporter. 

There's nothing like having family present at the finish line.  It made the 2,500 mile trip and the 26.2 mile run worth every mile.  From left to right:  Roslyn Foster (mother in law), Ellen Johnson (sister in law, James Johnson (brother), Elmer Johnson (Dad), me, Hope (great niece), Grace (great niece), Lois Johnson (mom), Chuck Runyon (brother in law), Ramona Runyon (sister), Angel Williamson (niece), Baby Williamson (my great nephew inside Angela's belly, due 2/2008).  All are Christ followers!

Please realize that we are all running a marathon called life.  And talking about family meeting us at the finish line, get a glimpse of the picture that God gave John the Revelator of the finish line. (Revelation 7:9-17 NIV)  "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. {10} And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." {11} All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, {12} saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" {13} Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" {14} I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. {15} Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. {16} Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. {17} For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.""

Keep pressing toward the finish line!

Know that you are loved,

gaj

P.S. View all pics below.

P.S.S.  My new tat generated 4 conversations during the marathon.  I'll continue to lift up the cross of Christ making a difference in cities in our day.

Comments

[Trudy]

Awesome Pastor Greg!! So glad to hear everything went good. I knew you could do it. Most of all to have your family there to help you celebrate was I'm sure worth it all. I'm praying for healing in your body so you can get back to training again. Blessings!!

[Greg Johnson]

Trudy,

Thanks for the prayers. My cold is better today and I don't have a temperature, so I ran. I was able to run 2 miles on my ankle. It hurt, but was not unbearable. Still yet, I didn't want to push it and just did 2 miles. I'm keeping it wrapped, elevated and using lots of ice. I won't increase my training mileage until there is no pain.

I appreciate your prayers. I certainly feel the results of people's prayers. I pray a lot while running. Many times during the marathon Sunday, I thanked God for all those praying for me. I felt that God was sustaining me through those prayers. I know that He has laid it on my heart to do what I'm doing. I couldn't do it otherwise.

Know that you are loved,
gaj