Jeff Thompson
Chicago, IL
Total Raised: $700.00
My name is Jeff Thompson and I work at Moody Bible Institute in Student Development. My wife, Sarah and I live in Chicago with our 2 month old son, Judah.
This will be my second Chicago Marathon.
My biggest challenge is keeping up with the training during Judah’s first few months.
Mitch was a good friend of mine that I met thru college ministry at Harvest. He was in my small group and we went to Peru together.
Journal
November Update • Thursday, November 01, 2007
1. Would you or are you planning on running this distance again?
I was very disappointed with my time because of the race closing and being made to walk the last several miles. I wasn’t planning on running a third marathon but now I’m not sure because I really want to break my previous time of 4hrs. We’ll have to see.
2. Explain what it was like to run on the hottest day in the Chicago Marathon 30 year history?
I was surprised at how quickly I felt fatigued. My legs and lungs felt fine but I just felt tired much quicker than usual. I didn’t really have a problem with water as many did. Although I was frustrated with the outcome of the race I completely understand why the race officials made that decision. I’m just grateful that we all finished and no one was hurt.
3. Lastly please write something to each of your sponsors, it can be a thank you, share a verse, something from your heart.
A special thanks to my wife, Sarah, for her support and the many hours she showed patience when I was. Thanks for your support financially, in prayer, and on the course. It made the marathon more meaningful knowing that we were running for something and knowing that so many people had supported us in this challenge. Praise God for what he did through the Foundation and its sponsors! Thanks for playing a role in his work!
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 signed up for it back in December but didn’t pick up running again until it got a little warmer in March. As I mentioned before, the summer has been challenging as our first child, Judah, was born July 4th. Since I started training for this year’s marathon I’ve run somewhere between 300-350 miles. Sarah and I go for a few mile walk several times each week and we live in the city so we walk everywhere anyway. I don’t have any clue how many miles all that walking adds up to but I know its helped my training.
2. Tell us what you’ll be doing the Saturday before the race?
I’ll be sleeping in and hanging around home. I like to stay off my feet as much as possible and eat plenty of pasta the night before the race. I’ll probably watch a movie with my wife and get to bed early.
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?
It’s been difficult to put in all the time to train but I always run with an ipod and I’ve filled it with worship music. It’s so good for my soul to be able to run on the lakeshore path here in Chicago and praise God, pray, and meditate while running. It’s sort of a little sanctuary for me from the busyness of ministering to college students.
Training helps me to grow in discipline and I always remind myself of 1 Timothy 4:7b-8, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come.” Being disciplined in training for the marathon helps me to be disciplined in all areas of my life. A mentor told me, “I’ve never known a godly man except one that was a disciplined man.” I’ve found that as I’m disciplined in something of “little profit,” like making myself go for a 22 mile run when I’d rather sleep in, it helps me to be disciplined in areas of greater “profit.”
September Update • Friday, September 07, 2007
1. Share with us your workout schedule for August?
I’ve been following a schedule I found on a website that I used for last year’s marathon. During the week I run 2-3 times for 4-7 miles. My weekend runs are much longer—this weekend will be 18 miles and then 20 the week after that. In addition to this, I take a few walks each week with my wife Sarah. The hardest part is giving up stuff I know I shouldn’t eat.
2. How are you holding up physically and mentally?
Well, I’m not hurt but I need to keep pushing it to get in better shape.
The closer the calendar gets to October 7th the more I get excited about the race. It’s such a rush! The millions of spectators lining the course really make it a great experience and help to give you that extra boost of adrenaline when you feel like stopping.
3. Athlete’s Journal: Please make this your journal for the month of August and share with us everything and anything you would like?
Being disciplined with training has been a bit harder this year than ever before. Our first child, Judah Riley, was born on July 4th. As you can imagine, it’s been a little difficult to get out and run 4-5 days a week. The joy he brings is well worth the few extra aches I’ve had on long runs.
It’s a great privilege for me to run for the Mitchell Swaback Foundation. Mitch was a good friend of mine and I’m glad to play a part in carrying on his spirit of generosity and his desire to build something for God’s people. It’s really cool that I can run to support the Foundation and my church, Harvest.
Sponsors
Judah Thompson • $100.00
Dad, sorry I can't run with you but I thought I should get the whole "crawling and walking thing" down first. (If you'd raise my allowance, I could donate more). See you at the finish line!Sara Thompson • $50.00
Steve and Terri Thompson • $500.00
Paul & Meredith Haidle • $50.00
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