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• » Jeff Donaldson

Jeff Donaldson

Elgin, IL
Total Raised: $3,541.10

1. Tell us about yourself and your family?
My wife, Bethany and I live in Elgin IL. I am a Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel and Bethany is best, hardest working stay at home Mom on earth. We love hanging out with out four great kids, Whitney, Joel, Mariah and Daniel.

2. Have you ever done a half or full marathon before?
I have run the Chicago Marathon four times.

3. What are your biggest challenges for race and what is your goal?
Last year was supposed to be my fifth consecutive Chicago Marathon, but I had to miss it due to health issues. I had surgery in 2001 to remove a tumor on my pituitary gland, and last fall the small part of the remaining tumor was giving me problems. I had gamma knife surgery and had to miss the Marathon. I am excited about getting back to it. I did complete a half marathon in Indianapolis this May which is good preparation for the big race in October. I have three goals this year:

• I want to beat my personal best time of 3:55. I did that in my first marathon and haven’t been able to do it since.
• I want to have fun training for the race with my friends.
• I want to raise as much money as I can for MSF.

• I loved Mitch and want to honor him and the life that he lived. He cared deeply about his lost friends and I would love to see people come to Jesus as a result of MSF.
• As a Pastor at Harvest and father of students at Harvest Christian Academy, we have been on the receiving end of the generosity of MSF. This is a way for me to help with the cause.   I don’t have much to give, but I would like to help rally people to this cause.
• It takes a lot of work to train for and run a marathon. Running for MSF helps me know that my running is not in vain.

Journal

November Update  •  Thursday, November 01, 2007

1. Would you or are you planning on running this distance again?
At this point, I think I am putting my Marathon running on hold.  This was my fifth Marathon and I consider myself VERY BLESSED to have been able to finish them all.   Maybe when I turn 40 I’ll try it again.  For now, I’m looking for a new workout hobby.  I think I’ll try sprint and olympic distance triathlon’s again.

2. Explain what it was like to run on the hottest day in the Chicago Marathon 30 year history?
It was CRAZY!  I am really fortunate that I was able to complete the entire 26.2 miles and cross the finish line.  I ran most of the race with John Smith and Joe Stowell.  We knew right away that it was too hot to come in at our target time.  We slowed a bit, but not much.  I drank way more water and Gatorade than I normally do, at least two cups at every aid station.  The beginning part of the race was fun.  I have to confess that I was greatly disappointed when, at mile 21 they told us that the race had been cancelled.  They told us to stop running and that shuttle buses were coming to pick us up and take us back to the finish line.  I started thinking about all of the time I had spent training for this race, and about the 21 miles I had just run.  I might have felt differently if they had called it off after mile 1, but having completed 21 miles there was NO WAY I was stopping.  We continued to run, and police officers would be telling us at every block to stop running and walk.  I ended up walking the last 4 miles.  How depressing.  It was what was best for us, but I didn’t like it.  I was overheated and cramping in my knees and calves, but we kept walking.  My friend Brad jumped in with us at mile 18 and stayed until the finish.  He was a huge encouragement.  John and I decided to run the last tenth of a mile through the finish line.  Half way there my left calf muscle cramped up.  I tried rubbing it out but it wasn’t working.  John ended up helping me cross the finish line.

It was hard to see so many people laying down, quitting, vomiting and even some convulsing during the race.  I was really sad to learn that a man my age had died during the race.  Running is not worth permanent damage to my health or death.  I want to have fun with it.  The last couple of marathon’s have not been fun for me, which is why I think I need to take a break for awhile.  Remind me that I said this when I sign up next year!

Anyway, I am very thankful that I crossed the finish line, got my medal, and that all of my friends made it safely as well.

3. Lastly please write something to each of your sponsors, it can be a thank you, share a verse, something from your heart.
During my training, I would log on to the MSF website nearly every day to read the encouraging words that my friends had written to me.  I was genuinely encouraged by them!  I exceeded my fundraising goal, and I am overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people.  There were moments during the marathon that I wanted to quit, and I thought of all of my sponsors, their kind words and support, and knew that I had to cross the finish line and give the race my best.  Do not grow weary in doing good.  Your encouragement and generosity helped me most when I was weary.  Your generous giving will ensure that others will have the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  I can picture right now folks sitting on the bleachers in the gym hearing about Jesus and witnessing what a follower of Christ looks like.  Thanks for giving.  May you “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:18

October Update  •  Monday, October 01, 2007

1. Please tell us how many months you have been training for this race and if you have your training totals please share.  (include running & biking mileage and any other cross training you have done)
I have been officially training for this race since May.  I really wish that I had kept track of my mileage over the months, but I can’t say for sure how much I’ve done.  It would have been inspiring to have seen it, I’m sure.

2. Tell us what you’ll be doing the Saturday before the race?
The day before the race?  Oh, nothing much…run 2 miles, attend a fund-raising brunch for a great ministry that I support, GRIP.  Go to Harvest’s staff picnic for lunch.  Go downtown to get my marathon packet and eat dinner with friends.  Race back to Elgin for the dedication service of the new building, and then maybe spend the night downtown (still working on accommodations) or sleep at my home and leave really early Sunday morning to drive to Chicago.  (I already know that I can’t do all of those things…I’m still determining which one(s) need to go!)  That should be a nice and relaxing day before the Marathon!

3. The race is almost here, please share your thoughts about the endless hours of training, your sacrifices and what this has done to impact or even change your life?
I sort of wish that I had run the marathon a couple of weeks ago.  I don’t feel quite as ready for it right now, but that’s probably because we’ve been tapering.  It’s mostly mental, and I’ve got to get mentally ready.  I am really excited about the race and can’t wait for the day to come.  I love doing the training runs.  I can clear my mind and spend good time with the Lord on my solo runs, and enjoy some laughs with my friends when we do the long runs together.  Training for the race is definitely better for my overall health.  Sometimes I feel like I’m too busy not to run.  It’s a great relaxer for me.  It’s worth whatever sacrifices I have to make to get it done.

September Update  •  Wednesday, August 29, 2007

1. Share with us your workout schedule for August?
In the first half of August I was grooving.  I ran a 14 miler, and then had a great 16 mile run.  I hooked up with fellow MSF runners John Smith and Joe Stowell.  It was very nice not running on my own.  I took a few days of vacation after that and got some beach runs in.  Then suddenly, my training came to a jarring stop.  While playing with my kids on the beach I ended up running into my 9 year old daughter and broke the little toe on my left foot.  So…my workout schedule will now be blank for at least two weeks as I rest, heal, and try to get ready for the big race.

2. How are you holding up physically and mentally?
See the above paragraph.  When I broke my toe, my first thoughts were of the marathon.  I had to miss the marathon last year because of the gamma knife surgery.  I certainly don’t want to miss out this year because of an injury.  So, physically I’m not holding up well, and mentally I had a few days of depression.  I am trying to remain positive.  I WILL run the Marathon, as far as it depends upon me.  I broke the toe two days before my scheduled 18 miler.  I was still going to run it until I spoke with a doctor friend of mine.  I asked him if I could hurt it further by running on it.  My plan was to “man up” and run in spite of the pain.  He just laughed at me and made some sort of “runners are idiots” comment.  He explained that, no, I probably won’t do more damage to the toe, but that I will change my gait to compensate for the pain in my foot.  Doing that over 18 miles will certainly cause muscle damage in both of my legs.  Enough said.  So my current plan is to take two weeks off from training and then get back to running again.

3. Athlete’s Journal:  Please make this your journal for the month of August and share with us everything and anything you would like?
Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond to it.  I control my attitude.  Why can’t life be perfect?  Because I am a sinful person living in a fallen world.  I often feel as though things are harder than they should be or that there are more obstacles to overcome than there ought to be.  I don’t take lightly the admonition found in the book of James to “consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds…”  He says that persevering through trials will result in maturity in my faith, that I may be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Do trials stink (I would like to use a different word, but will refrain for the benefit of the reader)?  Absolutely yes!  Is it amazingly frustrating to break your toe after investing so much time into your training?  Absolutely yes!  Do I always know the specific reasons why God allows some things to happen in my life?  No!  Do I know that He allows them?  Yes!  And as weird as it sounds, I am thankful to know that He is still doing a work in my life, that He is refining me and maturing me.

So, I can’t look at this temporary set back and focus on it.  It does me no good.  For the marathon, my eyes are not fixed on my broken toe.  My eyes are fixed on the words “finish line” and the big shiny medal I get for crossing it.  Are my eyes fixed on the trials I experience in this life?  No.  My eyes are fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

(No apologies for the randomness of these thoughts…it’s my journal – not a paper!)

August Update  •  Wednesday, August 08, 2007

1. What makes you keep going on a day when you just aren’t having a good run or training day?
Ha!  Great question.  I just had one of those days.  It was really hot and muggy and half way through my run my right knee starting hurting and the pain intensified.  I walked for two minutes and thought about calling my wife and having her pick me up.  But I knew if I quit on the run it would put me further behind in my training.  I did a gut check and started running again.  With three miles left, all of the muscles in my legs were aching.  I slowed a bit and kept telling myself, “one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other.”  No deep thoughts, just basic “you can do it” kind of stuff.  With two miles left I called my wife and asked her to have an ice bath ready for me when I got home.  Thinking about that ice bath got me through the final two miles of that 14 mile run.  I even had something in me to pick up the speed at the end.  It was not a great run.  My legs felt awful for the second half of it.  I weighed myself when I got home and had lost four pounds because of the heat/humidity.  But I did it!  I actually felt great knowing that I had persevered through the pain and finished my goal.

2. What things are you doing to prepare physically and mentally for the marathon?
To prepare physically I keep a training plan and try to eat the best that I can.  I choose healthy foods (which is not always easy when you have 7-8 meetings at a restaurant each week!).  My motto is “everything in moderation”.  Pop once a week, a small piece of dessert everyday (but no chocolate breaks during the day), avoid chips and snacky foods like that.

Mentally it’s a bit tougher.  26.2 is a long way, and it doesn’t help that I’ve done it four times before.  I KNOW what’s coming.  As long as you stay physically healthy, the entire race is really just  a test of your mental strength.  I try not to think too much about emotions.  I try to stick with the facts.  “I have done this before and I can do it again.”  “I have trained for this, I am ready for it, and I can do it.”  Truth be told, I am praying during much of the Marathon.  God, please get me through this!

3. In what ways are your family or friends helping support you while training?
My wife Bethany is amazing.  She allows me the time to take long runs and is always encouraging me to get out there and do the runs.  She makes sure that I eat healthy foods.  You won’t find any tempting junk food at our house!  Training takes lots of time away from home.  My four kids are great about understanding that after Daddy has run 18 miles he’s not ready to wrestle on the floor or play soccer that day.

I have so many friends that ask me how my training is going.  It’s great accountability for me.  I am blessed to have so many people who care about me and genuinely want to know if I’m preparing properly for the big day.

Is there anyone in particular that helps motivate you?

4. Athletes Journal:
I only have one thought to add to my journal this month.  I am realizing how busy my life can be, loving my wife, caring for my kids, investing lots of hours at church, taking a mission’s trip to Romania, etc.  I have not had the time to adequately train.  I get my good runs in over the weekend, but during the week I just don’t run enough.  This has left me to conclude that I will not be able to beat my personal best marathon time of 3:55.  That was my goal for this year, and for a time I thought that I could reach it.  So, I have committed to run the race with my friend Joe.  I would rather have a great time with him with the goal to finish, than to race hard against a time that I know is unreachable for me this year and be frustrated.  Don’t worry, I still plan to train hard and be as ready as I possibly can be for the big race!

July Update  •  Monday, July 09, 2007

1. With three months remaining before your race what's going through your mind?
Can I really do this!?!  I have got to stay with my training.  I feel great on the long runs, but I know that 26.2 is a LONG WAY!

2. What is your training schedule for the month of July?
I run four days per week, with one or two additional days for cross training.  Saturdays and Mondays are my longer runs.  I kicked of the month by running the hills of Galena, IL in the heat.  That place is HILLY!  I will be up to a 15 miler by the end of the month, Lord willing.  I will be in Romania July 19-30, so who knows what kind of training I'll be able to get in there.

3. What is your long run up to?
10 miles.

4. Athletes Journal:
This year, during my training, I have added the discipline of praying for specific people and ministries when I run.  It's been a blessing to have the extended time to pray, and it keeps my mind focused.

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