500 Hundred Long Miles Between

Today I cross another milestone, 1500 miles. It was September 2007 when I cross the 1000 barrier. I lived 300 miles from where I do today. The day was gorgeous, as I ran on a gravel road beside a train track where I had my moment of personal victory. I thought the next 500 would come easy but found the road turned into a steep incline over the next 33 months. Amid that stretch was an inconceivable marathon in Akron. Unfortunately my feet paid the price for that once unreachable goal as I developed an injury that refused to leave me for 20 months. I was convinced it would never go away. I am thankful to God that He healed me of it in His time. Those months I was forced off the roads were hard because it paralleled some monumental challenges in ministry I was facing at the time. It was hard not to take my frustrations to the streets as I had before my injury developed. The last 500 were adverse-filled miles but they also included some other changes in my life. I became a grandfather. I became a proud Army parent and this gives me new incentive to run as well. I got to see my last son graduate from high school. I have left many running friends in one state to find new ones in another. Though the last 500 miles were long and at times appeared unattainable, I am renewed with vision and passion to run far and accomplish more once again. My thoughts are already turning to my next goal of 2000 miles and the prospect of another marathon somewhere out there. I am grateful that God has freed me to run as I've longed to once again. While I hope the next 499.2 miles ahead aren't as steep as the last, I hope that they are full of great, unexpected surprises along the way.