ex(PR)essed

I’ve got marathons on my brain this week — and with good reason. On Monday morning, I was greeted with the good news that a former Messiah College student, Brian Sell, qualified for the 2008 Olympics by running an impressive 2:11:40 marathon at the Olympic Trials in New York City. Everyone knows the Olympics are a big deal; therefore, in this case, qualifying for Beijing in 2008 has become the focal point of celebration. I, however, as the wife of a good looking guy who is going to run the Harrisburg Marathon this weekend, would argue that the celebration is also the completion of such a grueling event and, in Sell’s case, his remarkable time. Imagine running 26 miles and 385 yards in a little over two hours. Can’t? Me either.

My husband has been training since spring for the Harrisburg Marathon. There wasn’t a single Saturday this summer when we got up at the same time and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together. Many times, Jeff got up at 4 a.m. and ran before going to work or church to avoid interrupting our day as best as possible. He ran in the rain, cold, and dark. He even took a trip to the hospital in June after running in intense heat. He has shown remarkable dedication, tremendous mental strength, and more than a smidge of change to his body. I am admittedly frustrated sometimes by the way such intense training can interfere with our lives, but I am never unimpressed by his commitment or unawed by his focus.

Sunday will be a big day for us. As Jeff’s runs his 26.2 miles around Harrisburg, I will be scurrying about on foot and in my car so I can cheer him on every few miles. I don’t yet know what I will yell — after all, what could I possibly say to further motivate him? He ran for hundreds of hours this summer without even a glimpse of me. I actually suspect that by the end I will be at a loss of words. So stinkin’ proud that it will be hard to speak.

When you’re headed to church Sunday morning, will you pray for us? Pray for strength for Jeff, both physically and mentally. Pray for safety for all the runners as they navigate the city. And pray for me as I strive to be the wife and fan that Jeff deserves.