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• » 2007 Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon
• » John and Mary Oliver

John and Mary Oliver

Lake Zurich, IL
Total Raised: $1,120.00

Journal

October Update  •  Monday, October 01, 2007

1. What kind of impact has this race had in your life?
John - it was an accomplishment I will continue to draw on. Mary - It encouraged my faith to believe in God's transforming power through small acts of obedience over time.

2. Would you or are you planning on running this distance again?
Yes, soon… January! Walt Disney World Half Marathon!! We feel it is important to continue to set goals and place challenges before us.

3. Lastly please write something to each of your sponsors, it can be a thank you, you can let them know we met our goal; share a verse, something from your heart.
Thank you so much for your support. Your contribution is an investment in the well-being of others - touching the lives of so many, long after the race. Thoughts of Mitch and your words of encouragement helped us through some real rough spots in the race. We are so grateful for each one of you. For your personal interest in our fitness journey and pray the Lord will bless you in good measure for all you give, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing.

September Update  •  Thursday, August 30, 2007

1. Share with us your workout schedule for August?
We really felt convicted to step up our focus on fitness after we turned 50 last year. Our goal is to build a good physical foundation. So we found a seventeen week training plan that incorporates cross/strength training and running six days a week.  Last week we completed our last long run day which was almost 12 miles. We’ll taper back our long runs the next week as we get closer to race day.

2. How are you holding up physically and mentally?
We had a couple setbacks in August with some minor injuries but feel like we’re back.  Mentally it’s a challenge to re-engage after an injury. There were many times we leaned on each other for that push.  Now to have an opportunity to use this race to support what God is doing with the Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center is an incredible encouragement.

3. Athlete’s Journal:  Please make this your journal for the month of August and share with us everything and anything you would like?
John – I went into August strong - running, weights, biking. Then came the obstacles. My left knee started bothering me. Even though I still ran through the pain getting physical therapy really helped. I had mouth surgery and then a three day flu! I ended up getting some strength training during this time that really get me back on track. I also have a great partner, my wife. I am fired up and ready. How did I get through this?  Philippians 4:13 says. “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”

Mary – August was the challenge month. Up to that point things were consistent and moving forward. I learned a lot about the benefit of “consistency” which is not always my path. Mine is more like peaks and valleys. I’m prone to push and that is probably the reason behind my shin and knee injury.

I had to make a decision – lay off and allow my body to heal or push and do long term damage. I took three weeks off, doing only limited runs and non-impact training.  I was afraid I would lose my cardio endurance. But my first long run back was almost 8 miles and I felt like God covered me, saying “See Mary, do the wise thing and leave the result to me.”  Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength will be limited.” Those weeks of consistency paid off in building a foundation that allowed me to bounce back from my setback.

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