A foam roller for your faith! Five to ten minutes of this devotional will leave you rejuvenated as you discover the unique connection between running and faith. Packed with entertaining stories, practical running tips, and challenging faith steps, this book is the ultimate training tool.
CJ Albertson, college coach, indoor marathon world record holder; Chelsey Albertson, U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier
Having known the Youngs for over twenty years, Ive observed the anvil on which these amazing devotionals were forged. Using personal examples and practical suggestions, they apply Bible verses to life and running, showing us vividly how to walk, run, and soar spiritually and physically.
John Volkman, has run a marathon in all 50 states and 10 provinces, and has coached marathon runners for over 20 years
This book is the perfect amount of storytelling, devotion, and practical running advice; such a gift from an inspiring couple! I also love that it gives me an opportunity to journal and record both my spiritual and running journey at the same time.
Sunny Arada, owner and founder of Endure Jewelry and former NCAA Division I track athlete
Dorina is an encourager who moves women forward in their faith. Her words will give you the courage to take the next brave, Jesus-following step in your story.
Biblical resources for spiritual perspectives to inspire and instruct my athletes. Dorina and Shawn have created a powerful and applicable guidebook of higher purpose for runners of the faith, and I know I will use it for years to come in countless circumstances.
Ray Winter, PhD, cross-country and track-and-field head coach, Fresno Pacific University
Copyright Page
2020 by Dorina Gilmore Young
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2823-6
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled HCSB are from are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations labeled MSG are from are taken from THE MESSAGE , copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NIRV are from are from the Holy Bible, New International Readers Version. NIrV. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. The NIrV and New International Readers Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Kara Klontz
Author represented by Books & Such Literary Management
Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Foreword
Introduction
1. Cultivating Courage
2. Beauty from Ashes
3. Walking with Purpose
4. He Refreshes My Soul
5. Your Pace Is Your Pace
6. Cloud of Witnesses
7. Hydrating Well
8. Running Away from the Lies
9. Seasoned with Salt
10. Running through Lifes Hurdles
11. Press On toward the Goal
12. Trust Your Coach
13. Get Up and Walk
14. Learning to Breathe
15. Looking beyond the Haze
16. Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
17. The Power of Suggestion
18. Traversing Lifes Trails
19. Building Spiritual Muscles
20. Showing Up Matters
21. Coming Full Circle
22. Soaring through the Clouds
23. Walking on Water
24. Loving Your Neighbor on the Trail
25. Friend and Forerunner
26. Running for Diamonds
28. Valuing the Building Process
29. Battling Fear on the Course
30. Honoring Our Sacred Bodies
31. Your Race Isnt Over Yet
32. Walking Like Jesus
33. Letting God Nourish Us
34. Hitting the Wall
35. Under His Wings
36. Running to Worship
37. Training Together
38. Following My Coach
39. Resting in Unforced Rhythms
40. Running toward the Rock
41. Developing Mental Toughness
42. Building Muscle Memory
43. Run Like a Girl
44. Learning from the Crepe Myrtle
45. Running against the Wind
46. Fighting the Good Fight
47. Praying While Running
48. Navigating Injuries
49. Resting as Part of Training
50. Dealing with Disappointment
51. Finishing Well
52. Running the Ultramarathon
Appendix 1: How to Form a Running Group
Appendix 2: Warm-up Drills for Runners
Appendix 3: Walk, Run, Soar 5K
Appendix 4: Walk, Run, Soar 10K
Appendix 5: Walk, Run, Soar Half Marathon
Appendix 6: Walk, Run, Soar Weekly Mileage Chart
Appendix 7: Walk, Run, Soar Annual Mileage Chart
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Author
Back Cover
Foreword
When I look back at my career, it wasnt the two Olympic Games I had the honor of competing in, or the American record I set in the half marathon, or even running 2:04 at the 2011 Boston Marathon that I treasure the most. Rather, it is a still, quiet moment when I was thirteen years old, before any running ever began, when I was looking out the window at the sparkling blue waters in Big Bear Lake, California, that I cherish most. This was the moment when I encountered God for the first time in a still, small, quiet inner voice challenging me to run around the lake. It would have been easy for me to dismiss this feeling as a passing random urge to do something that I always hated to do (run), but there was something about it that captured me. It captured me in a way that made it impossible to let it go. This small encounter with God changed the trajectory of my life forever.
The following Saturday I laced up my running shoes with my dad and embarked on what had to be the worlds longest, slowest, most painful run in history (at least thats how it felt to me). When I finally stumbled through the door and collapsed on the couch, I felt like I heard God speak to me again that one day I would run with the best guys in the world, and that I had been given that gift to help and love other people. I would spend the next twenty years of my running career pursuing this vision, beginning a wonderful journey full of exhilarating highs, gut-wrenching lows, and everything in between, experiencing God at deeper levels with each passing stride.