Running with Christ

Running with Christ

From Life in Christ

By Neil McBride

Two things hold immense significance in my life: my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my passion for running. I cannot take a single step without His guidance. Every time I lace up my running shoes, I feel His presence beside me, pushing me through challenges and lifting me when I’m weary. For this, I am truly thankful.

^“6 Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today, I invite you to join me on my journey as a born-again Christian and a dedicated runner. Together, we will delve into the essential lessons learned through the miles and explore how faith intertwines with perseverance. Spending time with the Lord is vital, especially before facing unknown paths.

One inspiring place is Iten, a town in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya, with a population of just over 40,000. As I strive to improve as a runner, I look to the masters of the sport for guidance. Kenyan athletes have dominated long-distance running for years, and it is no wonder they hold both marathon world records. Ruth Chepng’etich set the women’s record at 2:09:56, while Kelvin Kiptium held the men’s record at 2:00:35.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

On October 12, 2019, Kipchoge made history by running a marathon in under two hours, finishing in an incredible 1:59:41. It’s truly astonishing how many of the world’s best long-distance runners hail from this remarkable country. So, what is their secret? Let’s explore that together and discover what drives their success.

My love story with running began in the sweltering summer heat in Kent, England. It was June 2021—an ideal month to embark on a new romance. In the United Kingdom, long-distance running isn’t just a sport; it’s a cherished tradition that unites people across cities and towns. I discovered running as a means to transform my life and lose weight. At my heaviest, I weighed 17 stones (108 kg) and stood six feet tall (182 cm), which placed me in the obese category according to my Body Mass Index (BMI). I knew I needed to shed four and a half stones (29 kg) to reach a healthier BMI. The journey ahead felt daunting, and starting was the toughest part, especially since my body faced limitations due to my weight. I realised I couldn’t run like the world-class athletes from Kenya who conquered the marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km). However, I refused to give up. Instead, I committed to taking small, steady steps and setting achievable goals. Embracing this gradual approach has made all the difference, and it can be for you, too!

In my local park, there is a pavement that surrounds the grassy area. One loop is 1 km; initially, I thought running just 1 km wouldn’t help me lose weight. My initial goal was to run 2 km without stopping, with the further aim of completing 2 km in under 10 minutes. My challenge was more about improving my time than covering distance.

I still remember the day I attempted to run 2 km; it was difficult to carry the extra weight. However, one of my running rules was to focus on my successes rather than my potential failures. I knew that achieving a sub-10-minute 2 km would take time, but I was dedicated to improving with each run. I constantly asked myself, “What can I do to improve?”

^“29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

To make progress, I needed to make some changes outside of running. I realised I had to eat like a champion and revamped my diet. I started a plan to eat only one meal daily, with a few healthy snacks in between. I incorporated more fruits and vegetables into my meals and devoted hours to learning about nutrition.

After six weeks, I went out for another 2 km run and challenged myself to improve. After six days of running 2 km, I shifted my focus from time to distance. I completed my first 5 km with a time of 34:12. One of my long-term goals was to run a 5 km in under 25 minutes, but I knew I still had a long way to go.

After two months of running, I began to lose weight, and my body adapted to running faster. I kept a record of my time. One day, a friend suggested I sign up for a half marathon (13.1 miles or 21.1 km). I had only run up to 5 km then, so it felt like a significant leap; however, the idea intrigued me. After less than two months of training, I attempted a half marathon.

I woke up on a Thursday morning, ready to run a half-marathon. After drinking plenty of water, I loaded my pockets with gels and jelly babies. I planned my route, factoring in distances between shops so I could grab a bottle of water or a snack along the way. I completed my warm-up exercises and selected a playlist filled with music from 1980s movies to inspire me to achieve my best. I set out and maintained a slow pace to prevent burnout and avoid injury.

A Kenyan runner holds six out of the last nine men’s half-marathon records, while Kenyans also hold nine out of the previous thirteen women’s half-marathon records. At the time of writing, Yomif Kijelcha of Ethiopia holds the men’s half-marathon world record with a time of 57:30, and the women’s record stands at 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey, also of Ethiopia.

I was not aiming to break a world record; my goal was to cross the finish line, no matter how long it took. Before heading out, I took a moment to do what many Kenyan runners do before a race: I prayed to God, asking Jesus Christ to be my running partner. Weighing 16.5 stones, I knew it seemed impossible for someone my size to complete the race. However, I felt the Holy Spirit guiding me to focus not on the finish line but on my relationship with Jesus Christ. As I ran, I spent much time praying with each passing mile.

I felt comfortable for the first 10 km to 16 km, but then I began to feel my energy drain. I didn’t want to give up, but I needed encouragement from Jesus. I found a private area to kneel and looked toward His heavenly throne. Though my body was weak, the power of the Holy Spirit renewed my faith. I rose from the ground, took one step forward, and repeated the action with my other foot. My body moved toward the finish line. The closer I got to the end, the nearer I felt to the Lord. Together, we were winning the race. Once I crossed the finish line, I returned to my knees, tears flowing as I sang praises to the Lord.

^“31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

After completing my first half-marathon, I continued my daily 2 km runs around the park. I then decided to test myself against other runners by signing up for my first park run. Initially, I approached it with the confidence of someone intending to win, but reality soon set in. When the whistle blew to start the race, my legs moved like the wind, and I felt strong until I noticed other runners passing me one by one. My position quickly shifted from first place to over a hundredth. I couldn’t maintain my early pace, struggled to breathe, and felt pain in my legs as I lost the natural swing of my arms. I was slowing down, and my only aim was crossing the finish line. I finished at 32:47. Although I was happy to complete the course, I knew I could do better. My next goal became running a sub-30-minute 5 km.

I returned home eager to learn about running and the science behind it. I had previously thought running was about speed, but I realised I needed to learn to go slow to master the right techniques. Running is more than just moving your feet quickly; it involves education and awareness. To emulate the Kenyans, I began watching and studying their movements during marathons.

As we run, we either develop good or bad habits. Unfortunately, I had picked up many bad habits. One of my weaknesses was my breathing technique and upper body posture. Breathing is crucial; it helps recharge our bodies when we feel weak. I discovered that while running, taking a deep breath every five steps and exhaling slowly allows more oxygen into my heart, resulting in a healthy production of red blood cells in my bloodstream. These red blood cells carry oxygen, essential for keeping the body energised and the muscles relaxed. Once I improved my breathing technique, I could maintain a faster pace without getting tired.

My next focus was on my arm movement, which had not effectively supported my heart, core, or legs. The arms play a significant role in running; they help with balance and control the speed of the legs. One reason I had been running at a slow pace was that I was relying solely on my legs. Additionally, it’s important to keep the arms close to the sides of the body and avoid crossing them in front of the heart. The chest, shoulders, and core should work together to facilitate better oxygen intake. I also started incorporating weights into my training, ensuring I consumed enough protein to rebuild broken muscle tissues.

I often weigh the pros and cons in my mind. Whenever I went out for a run, I would switch off any music and solely focus on how my whole body was functioning; I would question every body part. First, I would assess my breathing and listen closely to each breath. Afterwards, I would concentrate on my shoulders while pushing my chest out. Next, I would watch my arms, focusing on swinging them and lifting them as high as possible alongside my chest. I also paid attention to my landing foot and stride length. I would slow my normal pace to concentrate on my running form. While there is always a time to run fast, it’s crucial to slow down to improve our techniques.

I continued to attend Parkrun, and my times improved every week. However, I was still running in basic sportswear. I invested in a good pair of running shoes and bought myself a pair of Asics. This made a significant difference in my speed and control. After just a few months of running, my 5km time dropped from 34 minutes to under 25 minutes. I increased my running distance and pushed myself hard while keeping up with my classroom work. My goal was to run a 5km in under 20 minutes.

I lost a significant amount of weight, going from 17 stones to 13.5 stones, transitioning from obese to a healthy body weight. My body fat percentage was between 5% and 7%. While I wanted to get my weight below 13 stones, I was cautious not to drop to 12.5, which would be unhealthy. I knew I needed muscle to keep my bones strong. I was in a great place, but unfortunately, I sustained a few injuries that affected my confidence and running ability. During a 30km run, I badly injured my knee while running up a hill. This forced me to end the run, something I had never done before. My running club nicknamed me “The Mexico Bull” due to my aggression and intensity. My extremes helped me lose almost five stones within ten months, and my personal best for a 5km was 22:10 minutes. I worked incredibly hard to achieve such results quickly, going from 34 to 22:10 minutes in the 5km—making me faster than over 90% of runners at Parkrun nationwide.

 

I allowed myself time to recover but kept pushing myself instead of slowing down. I faced numerous struggles in my personal life, and mentally, I was beginning to lose my passion for running. My heart was not in the right place. At the beginning of this blog, I mentioned wanting to run a 2km in under 10 minutes; by this point, I was running it in under 9 minutes.

^“19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? ²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

One day, I decided to run my first marathon despite wearing worn-out shoes. My knee had fully recovered, but I made the same mistakes. I started strong, feeling confident in my pace. I felt great for the first 15km and was running at a solid speed. In my mind, I had already completed the marathon. However, once I reached the 20km mark, I felt a sharp pain in my right knee. At first, I brushed it off, telling myself I could easily run it off. I completed the first half of the marathon in one hour and forty-five minutes.

Then, I stopped running and collapsed; I could hardly walk on my knees. It was heartbreaking because everything else was functioning well. After several attempts to run again, I realised I could go no further. I walked another 3km to the nearest train station and took the train home. I could barely bend my knee and feared my running days were over.

When I arrived home, I took a shower and then lay down on my bed, realising I could still move my legs despite the pain. Tears streamed down my face as I understood the extent of my injury. At 7 PM that evening, I slowly went to a Bible study and asked for prayers. However, deep down, I felt like my days of running were behind me.

Running was my first hobby, which evolved into a lifestyle; I was a good runner. I have ADHD, and running helps me manage my emotions, serving as a way to cope with difficult situations. However, my faith in God faded, and I stopped seeking the Lord due to personal struggles.

In 2024, I aspired to rebuild my life, but I fell into many bad habits, making it a year of failure. As a born-again Christian, I realised I wasn’t utilising the Holy Spirit to its full potential. For the first eight months, I went to work and returned home without a care. My running shoes spent far too much time away from my feet.

What I was missing most was God. Towards the end of the year, I began to rebuild my life and lifted weights to strengthen my knee while focusing on the Lord. Jesus used to be my running partner, but I ran alone. I called upon His name to change me for His purpose. My heart felt more broken than my knee, and I prayed for a renewal of my heart. I had lost the faith to run again, even a 5km or 10km. When I attempted to run, my right knee would often stop me.

In January 2025, I found my running partner, always ready in His holy shoes. I prayed fervently, and my faith was running a marathon. I laced up my running shoes, preparing to run my first 5km since injuring my right knee eighteen months earlier. I felt a new purpose and fell in love with running again. On my marathon day, I ran alone, having trained without Christ in the weeks leading up to it. That day, I followed my best friend rather than leading the run.

I thank Christ for changing my life in 2012 by filling me with the Holy Spirit. I prayed in tongues for the first 500 meters of the 5km; I needed to focus on the Lord. By the second 2km, I felt my right knee begin to hurt, but I felt confident in the things above, enabling me to overcome the challenges on earth. I kept running, and I could see the finish line for the first time in a while. That day wasn’t just about running but growing in my faith.

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

The first step has been completed, and the next step is to keep it simple as I regain strength in my knee. That day, I felt I had defeated my struggles with a spiritual sword. I have replaced anger with love. I run differently now, alongside Christ. I’ve run three 10kms in less than a week. Though much work is ahead of me, I don’t need to worry about my strengths or abilities. I aim to be led by the Holy Spirit, not my flesh.

One key ingredient to the success of many Kenyan runners is their faith in Jesus Christ. He leads the Kenyan running community. When they gather for training, they always start their runs with prayer; this is the secret to success in running and life. As a runner, I have been uplifted countless times by the King of Kings. God loves witnessing us enjoy His creation while running through the countryside and the concrete paradise of city life. I particularly enjoy running at night under the star-filled heavens. I see signs and wonders created by His hands when I look up. If we spend endless hours at home watching television, we miss out on the incredible artworks painted by Jesus Christ.

^“2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

I want to dedicate this blog to a fallen hero of the running world: the great Kelvin Kiptum, who died at the beginning of last year. The world lost a man who could have broken the sub-two-hour marathon record. God bless his family and friends. The remarkable people of Kenya have inspired me. They taught me to love God first and, in addition, to love the sport of running.

Thank you for reading, 

RIP Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot (2 December 1999 – 11 February 2024)

“Running with Christ”

Life in Christ

DTA – Neil McBride

(CEO and founder of Downtown Angels)