2:17:00

Move over Prefontaine, make way Forrest, the Brock is here!

Sunday marked my second long distance race. I ran in the Eugene Half-Marathon. I am proud to report that I finished, and I completed the race 3 minutes faster than my goal (2:20). Natasha and I planned to run a half-marathon this year together, and that will be happening in June, but i wanted to get ahead of the game, so I entered this one on May 4th, an aggressive 6 week training later, and I did it.

I also managed to cajole my boss into running it with me (I challenged his manhood), again I am proud to report that I beat him by 14 minutes! At least he wasn't beaten by a one legged man on crutches ( *cough* *cough* Heath in Salt Lake, *cough* ).

Unfortunately none of the pictures on race day turned out very well, so there is no visual evidence, oh well, my sore foot and chafing tell all the story I need to hear.

I think my goal for the next half-marathon will be 10 minute miles ( ~2:11 ), we will see if Natasha can keep up :)

I thought it was very interesting and appropriate that my time ended up being exactly 2:17. I had been praying and had asked other to pray for me during this run, and it just so happens that 2 Thessalonians 2:17 is "16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (16 added for clarity), indeed I felt encouraged and strengthened throughout my run because people were lifting me up in prayer to the Father! Thank you God for the blessing of physical exercise, and our bodies, thank you for helping me finish this race in the time I wanted and healthfully. Thanks to everyone praying for me.