Day 62 - Keep on running

Let me tell you about a remarkable person. This is Jacky Hunt-Broersma. On Saturday 15th January 2022 she announced to the world that she was going to attempt to run a marathon every day for 100 days - a total of 2620 miles. That is remarkable!

But the story is more amazing than you think. In 2001, Jacky lost her left leg below the knee to Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects the soft tissue around the bones. It wasn’t until 2016 that she took up running. Starting with short distances, she found that she frequently won 5K races in her age group. From there, she worked her way up to her first half-marathon in December 2016 and ran her first marathon, the Chicago Marathon, in 2017.

On Easter Monday Jacky ran the Boston Marathon in 5 hours 5 minutes, the only certified marathon in her 4-month schedule, running the others around her home in Gilbert, Arizona, or on her treadmill. The previous record for consecutive marathons was set in 2021 by Alyssa Clark, who ran 95 marathons in 95 days. So, Jacky planned to run 100 races in 100 days.

Little did she know that British Endurance runner Kate Jayden started a plan to run 101 marathons in 101 days back in January and completed the feat on Palm Sunday! So Jacky Hunt-Broersma upped her goal to 102!

She recently said:

“I'm hoping this will inspire others to get out of their comfort zone and try something new, and truly see what they are capable of. Running for me has really changed the way I see myself as an amputee, and it’s given me the courage to be who I am and how strong I can be. I’d love to see more amputees running in general. You don’t have to do marathons, but I just want to see them feeling free and physically active. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”

What an inspiration!

Here's some more inspiration for you today:

Jesus said: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 34: 4-5,8

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Gracious God, be my strength and deliverer today.

Lord Jesus, teach me to faithfully follow in your footsteps.

Holy Spirit, may compassion and goodness flow through me.

Amen.

Neil Chappell