Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon

Recently, I made a commitment to run in the Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon October 9, 2011. This is no doubt a divine appointment as I had been seeking God for an avenue to make a difference. I ran the Rock'n'Roll marathon last year in Seattle. My first marathon ever and quite honestly the first major running competition I had competed in since my Track & Field Days in High school. My only goal that June day was to finish the marathon, and I did! Months of training with my sister-in-law by my side had paid off and I was thrilled that I had finished! Thinking that finishing one marathon would certainly be enough in my lifetime, I hung my medal up and really didn't give another marathon much thought.
Several months had gone by when I started getting the itch to compete again. I wanted to improve my time since the last marathon; however, lacked a good training program and the thought was merely a distant goal.
In the meantime, I was seeking God for a way to make a difference in other people's lives. I was trying to find the area God was calling me to when one day I saw a flyer for Team In Training. Team In Training is an organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for those suffering from Leukemia, Lymphoma and other cancers of the same sort. It was then I knew I had found my calling.
Why this cause, you may ask? This cause hits close to home. In December 2010 I found out that a dear friend I knew in High School past away (5 years earlier) after battling Burkitt's Lymphoma. This really shook me. I was completely shocked to hear that someone my age, someone I had known personally, had been a victim. I found out later that this disease is known to hit young people. People that have hope for a future like my friend that had recently gotten married, graduated and started a career in teaching. But his story has inspired me to reach out. To do my part in helping raise funds in support of further research to find a cure. Which I may add may help find cures for other cancers and other diseases such as MS that are closely related.
Not only will being a part of this team bring funds and support to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but it gives an opportunity for me to take care of myself as well and compete once again in a marathon. A marathon for life and hope!
God calls us to be a light in the darkness. Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.


PS- If you would like to support me in this calling, or if you would like to learn more, please visit my website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/victoria11/hmartinj6s
Thank you!