26.2: Occasional Marathoner, Everyday Christian: A User’s Guide

Regarding Running

• I am not a coach.
• I am not a trainer.
• I am not an expert.

I know what works for me, and I train for my marathons accordingly. If you plan to run, seek out a proper training regimen or consult a professional.

Regarding Christianity

• I am not ordained.
• I have not studied philosophy.
• I am not a leader in my church.

I’m just an ordinary, average guy who considers himself a middle-of-the-pack Christian.
I run, but I do not consider myself a Runner. To me, being a Runner is a lifestyle-subscribing to magazines devoted to running, following industry trends, adopting the latest running technology, and otherwise immersing oneself in the world of running. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I respect the lifestyle, but that’s just not me.
So why do I run?
My goal for any marathon is simply to finish the race-to survive running 26.2 miles. I run marathons because they require me to focus on a specific task, both physically and mentally. I consider myself a middle-of-the-pack marathoner-an average guy who finishes somewhere in the middle of the overall group of runners.
The purpose of this book is to offer personal reflections while remaining relatively neutral. I hope it resonates with people from all walks of life-non-Christians, new Christians, and established Christians alike.
Some of the analogies in this book may fall short, so please remember that I’m just an average guy who runs unimpressive marathons and lives what I consider a middle-of-the-pack Christian lifestyle.
If you are considering either challenge-running a marathon or following Christ-I hope you find some wisdom in these pages. If you’ve already taken up either challenge, I hope this book offers you fresh perspectives on what you’ve accomplished and where you’re headed.