Ryan Hall - Run the Mile Youre In: Finding God in Every Step

Run the Mile Youre In is not about winning races and setting running records. Its about always moving forward. Moving outward is an act of courage. The reward is living the lifestyle and embracing the dream.

Bart Yasso, newly retired chief running officer, Runners World

Ryans journey on and off the course is touching and a meaningful way to live by helping others. This is an uplifting book of joy and finding your sense of purpose.

Meb Keflezighi, Olympic silver medalist; Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon champion

What I love about this book is that we get to know the real Ryan Hall. He talks about why it wasnt just the training that was key to his athletic and life success but also his faith. To succeed in the worlds most competitive sport takes so much; Ryan explains it all in this fine new book.

Bill Rodgers, four time Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon champion

Ryan examines and deciphers his well-lived life, and whether or not you share his deep Christian faith, theres much to learn here. He says that he always strove to run free and to run hard. This book contains many lessons to help you follow the same path.

Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon winner; writer, Runners World; author, Run Forever

Im inspired by so many of the chapter titles in this book. Vision, because the genius is seeing it in the seed. Sacrifice, because we can accomplish anything if we are willing to accept the sacrifices involved. Failure, because we fail only if we dont try. And Faith, because with faith, nothing is impossible. Ryan vividly drives home these and many other nuggets of wisdom.

Dave McGillivray, DMSE Sports; Race Director, Boston Marathon

Ryan knows what it takes to be a champion. No matter what career youre involved in or what your stage of life is, I guarantee youll be encouraged and equipped as Ryan helps you have the perspective and confidence to fight from victory and not for victory.

Lon Williams, pastor, Liberty Church

I have deep admiration for Ryan and his approach to his profession and life. He does a great job of unpacking the big picture and yet being fully engaged in the mile he is in. Get ready to run the race of your life.

Eric Johnson, author, speaker, pastor, Bethel Church, Redding, CA

This book will inspire you to chase bigger dreams, challenge you to rethink success, and invite you into a deeper relationship with God. Ryan shares with incredible vulnerability that we can draw nearer to God both on the mountain tops and in the valleys.

Michael Chitwood, Executive Director of Church and Ministry Partnerships, World Vision

ZONDERVAN

Run the Mile Youre In

Copyright 2019 by Ryan Hall

ISBN 978-0-310-35444-4 (audio)

Epub Edition February 2019 9780310354390

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hall, Ryan, 1982- author.

Title: Run the mile youre in : finding God in every step / Ryan Hall.

Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, [2019] |

Identifiers: LCCN 2018052330 (print) | LCCN 2019004481 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310354390 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310354376 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Hall, Ryan, 1982- | Long-distance runnersUnited StatesBiography. | RunningReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC GV1061.15.H35 (ebook) | LCC GV1061.15.H35 A3 2019 (print) | DDC 796.42092 [B] dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018052330

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Author is represented by the literary agency of The Fedd Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 341973, Austin, Texas 78734.

Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst

Cover photo: World Marathon Challenge

Printed in the United States of America

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This book is dedicated to my wife, Sara, for always believing in me and supporting me; to my kids, who have added so much joy to my life and will be the greatest legacy I could leave; to my extended family, who was on this journey with me through the ups and downs; to my friends who encouraged me along the way; and to everyone who is on the journey of discovering what God has put inside of them.

Contents

Id like to acknowledge Tom Dean, VP of Marketing at Zondervan, for reaching out to me to consider writing a book to share my story. Without his prompting, this book never would have happened. Id also like to acknowledge my friend Pastor Matthew Barnett, who pastors the Dream Center in Los Angeles and took me on the craziest weeklong adventure of my life, and connected me with the wonderful people at The Fedd Agency to make this book become a reality. And to the wonderful staff at Zondervan, thanks for helping turn a runner into an author through some serious editing throughout the process. Writing a book is like running a marathon. There may be only one person out there running the race or writing the book, but there is a huge team behind that person, which makes all the difference. Thanks to my team who ran the race with me.

I remember the image vividlythe sparkling bright blue water of Big Bear Lake in the high mountain region of Southern California. Because Id grown up in these mountains, Id taken in this image often, but this time it was accompanied by a vision. I was a thirteen-year-old eighth-grade basketball playerone who seemed to be stuck at four foot eleven and ninety-nine poundsand despite being one of the hardest workers on the team, I wasnt seeing much playing time. But that didnt keep me from enjoying being a part of the team and observing our weekly games from the sidelines. On this particular winter travel trip, the van was full of rambunctious junior high boy energy, the kind that would give most adults a headache, but I found myself tuning out the chaos and gazing at Big Bear Lake. It was as if all the commotion couldnt penetrate my ears; all I could hear was God giving me a desire Id never had before. I felt like He was giving me the aspiration to run around the lake. The desire wasnt overly obvious; it was more as if I had an itch that could be relieved only by attempting the feat.