Running the Chamberlain Capital Classic 21.1km wasn’t exactly a well-timed decision—especially considering I had only been back to training for three weeks. But in typical fashion, I decided to go for it anyway. What could possibly go wrong?
I ran it with my friend Sarie, which made all the difference. There’s something about having someone next to you who knows your story. She knew this wasn’t going to be a fast race. She knew I hadn’t trained properly. And she stuck with me anyway.
The route? Let’s just say it was generous with its hills. At 18km, we were both finished. Done. Absolutely depleted. And then there was still 3km to go. I remember looking at her and saying something along the lines of, “We’re actually paying for this.” I think we both laughed—because crying would’ve taken too much energy.
We had to dig deep for that last stretch. And I don’t mean a gentle second wind. I mean calling on the Lord for strength kind of deep.
“Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1, CSB)
Honestly, that verse has never felt more literal.
The race itself was well organised—bins everywhere, even though it had rained that morning. Cooler weather helped, but the course still made us work for that medal. And yes, I ran for the medal. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Because if it’s not on Instagram with a medal selfie, did it even happen?
This was only the third time I’d ever run a half marathon. The first was back in September 2016, and here I was again—still learning, still pushing, still trying. Despite the short training window, I managed to hit a few second-best personal times:
– Half-Marathon: 3:03:45
– 20K: 2:53:42
– 10 mile: 2:17:59
– 15K: 2:07:59
Not firsts, but close. And for three weeks of training? I’ll take it.
Of course, my body had some thoughts afterward. I ended up with shin splints and could barely walk for three days. I had to strap my legs just to get through the next two races. Lesson learned? Hopefully. But then again, I’m already planning to run it in 2018.
Sometimes we do the things that don’t quite make sense on paper. And yet, they shape us. That race reminded me of how far I’ve come. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually too. God doesn’t just strengthen us for the obvious wins—He meets us in the middle of our uphill battles, our underprepared attempts, and our “this is probably a bad idea” moments.
And that finish line? Still worth it.
