Run and Not Grow Weary

Today was a 14-miler with a tough 1.5 mile hill. I prayed the rosary as I went up the steep road. I moved one foot in front of the other repeatedly as I recited the Hail Mary for each bead. The early morning sun was shining on me directly as if to lead me on to the top of the hill. Like a messenger with a mission, I kept going so I could bring the prayer requests to God. Then finally I crossed the hill and continued on to St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church at Mile 11.75 to stop and pray.

For Brian's wife diagnosed with breast cancer and running her first half-marathon today, for Y-ME (breast cancer support group) in Illinois, for Agnes who is undergoing a mastectomy, for Carmela who has Ewing's carcinoma, and for Vanessa's father who was recently diagnosed of prostrate cancer. May God bring them comfort and mercy at their time of need. Give them hope and strengthen their faith as they come to You to ask for your healing love.

My run today was also a trip down memory lane. A somewhat painful nostalgia of the place where my wife and young son used to live and places we went to. I longed for my wife after the run, wanting to tell her all about where I went. But I know she's gone so I moved on with the thought that she was with me today every step of the way.

St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church in Clayton CA at Mile 11.75

May My Run Be Pleasing to God

A change of plan for today's run.  Instead of going to Half Moon Bay, CA, I stayed local to do my prayer run.  The plan is to run to Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Pittsburg, CA at 10.3 miles then head back home. Doing so, a friend of mine, Jim was able to run and pray with me for the first 2.5 miles.

So we started off at 5:45 a.m.  It was still dark outside but that's how I liked it. It will be a long journey of 20 miles for me so I wanted to be back before it gets sunny and warmer. It's going to be in the high 90's today. Nonetheless it was a beautiful day to go out and pray.  I saw the break of dawn as I climbed up a hilly road.  It reminded me of one saying, "The darkest hour is just before dawn." I run today to offer to God requests of prayers from friends and strangers alike. And the prayer requests are not for their own, but for their loved ones. Many healing stories happen because of the faith of the people who prayed for their sick.  Dear God, I run today to represent the people who came to you to beg for your compassion for their sick. I run for them.  But not I, Lord.  But my faith.  May it be pleasing to you O God.

For a friend's cousin undergoing chemo treatments for cancer of the uterus, for her twin cousins born with Down's Syndrome and one is undergoing surgery, for her fiance's sister-in-law who underwent brain surgery last year and has tumors in the abdomen, and who is 13 weeks pregnant. For my friend's wife diagnosed with cavernous hemangioma in the brain. For a friend's friend who has Stage 4 cancer. For a friend's sister whose disease has not been accurately diagnosed, but is similar to MS, for the last 20 years. For clynn78's friend's mom who has terminal brain cancer. For cam2run's former mother-in-law who has Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). For a friend's mom who will undergo a cataract surgery. For my wife's friend who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer and will undergo matectomy on the 6th.  For my wife's cousin who was recently diagnosed of breast cancer. For a friend's aunt who has dementia, and her brother who will undergo knee surgery. For my friend's young daughter who has Type II diabetes. For my friend suffering from  arthritis. For my sister-in-law who was recently operated on for tumor-like cells.  And finally for my friend Jim who ran with me today, his father has Stage 4 rectal cancer.

A runner, Sambehr from Thailand, is joining me in this prayer run.  My dear readers, please pray for these people, too, whether you're a runner, a cyclist, a swimmer, a mother, a father, a student.  Offer what you do for God's greater glory.

Continue to send me your prayer requests and I will offer them in prayer when I do my prayer runs.  "I will not rest until I rest in Thee."  This is what I give my life for since my wife died of metastatic breast cancer. Her story http://www.prayingrunner.com/2011/03/she-has-crossed-finish-line.html.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Pittsburg CA at Mile 10.3

A Prayer Run

I started at ten minutes past six in the morning with my book of prayer requests and headed out west to St. Anthony's Church at 5.5 miles.  Then I went to the Holy Cross Cemetery at 9.6 miles to visit my wife and pray for her.  I detoured towards home, realizing that I was short of time to make it on time home to be able to drive my son to a practice.  I covered 15 miles total.

This run I prayed for a relative's father-in-law who has Stage 3 lung cancer, a friend's sister who was diagnosed of plastocytoma and who's in severe pain, a former student who has Ewing's Sarcoma of the nerve, and for a little girl who has autism.  I also prayed for my brother who is applying for a job in a university, a good friend who needs a car, a relative who is looking for a job, a former student who is in need of emotional and physical strength, and for a couple who is trying to have a baby for the last 5 years.

Lord, please hear the prayers of your faithful.  In your great compassion, take from us the burden of anxiety, pain, and suffering, and give us rest and comfort.  You know what our hearts desire even before we can ask.  But we come to You in all humility to bring to you our petitions.

Lord, I bring to You these prayers during my run.  It is not I but You who brings healing and provide for our needs.  But I offer to do a sacrifice of running today to bring the needs of my friends to Your feet.  May my running journey and praise be pleasing to You today.

St. Anthony's Church at 5.5 miles

My wife at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery at 9.6 miles

Running Inspires

I like to share with you a poem written by a runner friend.  He's a proud father of a newly wed daughter and a new college graduate.  He said he does not write poems but was inspired to write one a few days before his first marathon in Sacramento, CA in 2007.  It's the force of running and the spirit of God inspiring us to do things larger than we are.  The poem is entitled "Running to Make God Smile."  Thank you, Duane, for sharing this.

Prayer Run for the Sick

With my little prayer book and little book of prayer requests tucked inside my fuel belt, I headed out at 6:30 a.m. to begin a 20 mile run for the sick. Seven people requested prayers for a friend or family member. I shall briefly mention them here and so if you come across my website, please do pray for them, too.

For Shawn, 34 years old who has cancer; for the cousin of "Runner1996", 26 years old who will undergo a double mastectomy this Wednesday; for Jasmine's son who has leukemia, for Margo's mom who has COPD, for Monte's wife who is recovering from a 2nd mastectomy after 16 years, for Cecile's 3-year old son, Diego who was diagnosed with autism, and for Sheila's 3-year old son, Gabby, who contracted whooping cough.

May they overcome their illness and offer their suffering to God, and may their faith be even stronger as they bear the pain of their illness. Please bless their families and loved ones and all those that give care for them.

My heart goes out to each one of you. I did a successful but difficult run. I prayed the rosary the whole time and it was reciting the rosary that kept me going when I started to get tired. But my pain was nothing compared to what you are going through right now. So please accept my offering of a run in your honor. God bless.

The following are pictures of the churches I stopped by to pray for all of you. God bless!

Most Holy Rosary Church at Mile 5

St. Ignatius at Mile 8

Immaculate Heart of Mary at Mile 15