The Training Crucible

So I have only been back into running for about a year now, but by far my favorite race has been the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway,AR.
Here are some of the reasons it's a favorite:
1. It's for a great cause.  Helping kids in need is what I'm about.  It's why I ran St. Jude's as my first marathon, it's why I work with teenage boys who are battling addiction, it's why I've renewed this blog: to bring my passions of running and helping others together.  Soaring Wings Ranch provides a permanent place for children who have been victims of difficult circumstances.
2. It's a great race.  Some of the hills on the course are grueling, but the support is awesome!  Last year at the race, kids from the Ranch had gone out and written messages in sidewalk chalk along the race course, they are also present at the aid stations and finish line to present you with your medal.  There is also plenty of fan support from the community, with lots of people coming out from their homes to cheer the runners on.  The food afterwards is also pretty amazing!
3. The Cost.  Today is last day to get the early bird cost of $30 dollars.  Tomorrow is jumps up to a whooping $40!  This is one the cheapest races I have ever been a part of, ever!  But don't let the cost fool you. The finisher medals are nice, the long sleeve tees are great quality, and like I said, the food afterwards is great.  One of the things this tells me is that Soaring Wings Ranch has sponsors that really believe in them and that the race organizers know what runners like.  Quite impressive for a race that is only going into its 3rd year!

Tonight Meg (my wife) and I registered for our first half-marathon. It's goes along with the path we are taking in order to run our first marathon by the end of the year (the plan, by the way is to run the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis). But this is more than a half-marathon, here are some interesting details that will make this special:

1. The event falls on Meg's birthday. It would be right to tell you how young she'll be, but I simply love the fact that we will be out there running in the same event on her birthday!
2. The Soaring Wings Half-Marathon in Conway, AR is for a great cause. Soaring Wings Ranch is a Christ-centered ranch for abused and neglected children. For more information about the ranch you can read their mission statement or check out there homepage. If you will be in the area on October 24, you can register for the event here.
3. This event will also be amazingly fun because several people from our church's running club are already signed up and several more have given some type of verbal commitment to participating in the event. Running is so much better when you have a great support team!
4. This event also falls perfectly in line with Hal Higdon's training program that I am using to get ready for the marathon in December. Since this will be the first time for me to run either of the distances in a race, it should give me a better idea of how I hope to finish in December.

I hope you'll join us for what should be a great event!