RunnersThe objectives of our group are to:
God wants us to take care of our bodies as the temple of God. For some this means swimming, for others basketball, and for us it means running (among the other ways that we can keep in shape).
As Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire described his experience as a runner: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure”. For many of us this is a blessing from God to be able to run, enjoy what He has given us and share the experience with others.
When we are not running at a local race on Saturday, we meet at 8:00 a.m. at the trailhead for the Rock Creek hiker/biker trail at the end of the parking lot after the boating/sailing parking lot within Needwood Park.
We are currently considering teams, “Redland Baptist Runners”, for the following races:
In those cases our normal runs at Lake Needwood will be held at the race venue. We recommend participating in the Montgomery County Road Runners who sponsor and support many local Montgomery County Races.
Please contact Russ Egeland, 301-260-7546, (rjegeland at gmail dot com) if you have any questions or would like to join us for our Saturday runs. Currently, runners are expected to be able to run a 10K, but at a variety of speeds and paces. Later, as the group grows, we will consider introducing a beginning running class and practice time.
from Russ Egeland
Early this morning, three intrepid members of the Redland Baptist Runners signed up, lined up, and ran the Brookeville 5k. It was a hilly course on a beautiful, rain-free morning at 8am. Our team, Daniel Adams, Mark Adams, and I did our best in running the course. Daniel finished extremely well in slightly over 20 minutes. Mark finished a few minutes later followed by me.
I felt like Mark's guardian angel watching him as he strode up the hills, dodged a few cars and successfully completed the race. Since I was behind him I could observe all that was going on and could tell him his splits....unfortunately, I just couldn't quite catch the swift footed Mark Adams. Team, we've got a great group of runners with our pastor and his son setting an excellent example for us by following up with this run.
On the ministry side, most of that takes place after the race (when you have a race this short). There are quite a few people that mingle around slowly by themselves hoping to talk to someone because running races is their social event. We met one of those people at the end of the race and I got to spend more time with her because it turned out that we knew each other from e-mail exchanges on the MCRRC yahoo groups. She is suffering from cancer and its taken its toll. Being able to run is a joy to her despite her pain. She seemed to just want to talk about it with someone before she got to her car. So, I became the listener...sometimes ministry by presence is what's needed at times.
On the running side, I offered some excuses for my performance, e.g., just coming back to running and still working on my base or core training, the other excuse that I didn't mention before was that I got distracted by a string of very good office chairs for sale at $10 each. As I ran slowly by I picked out two chairs that I would come back to pay for and pick up (which I did). As "penance" for being the last team member Mark had me run 12 miles at Needwood (actually, just kidding about Mark's request and also "penance" since Luther and Calvin took care of that for us...but the 12 miles later in the day was my long run to get prepared for next week's GERMANTOWN 5-MILER). Please let me know if you'll be signing up or have already signed up.
Mark had a great idea to get technical moisture-wicking shirts for the team. I suggested putting on the back "....the last shall be first..." later adding "(not for this race, but for eternal life).
I think its a great idea to help identify us as Christians with a message for runners. However, what is that message we should put on the back of the shirts. Please offer your suggestions like "Got God?". although I think that one is taken, or a thought-provoking short verse or question.....maybe Mark will give you a free t-shirt for the best "slogan".
