2 long runs to go!!!

Hi Sabrina here., checking in for the team!

We have only 2 more long runs to go. We all remeber when 8 miles was the long run; now we just get up and thank the marathon manual it is only 8 for a day!!! Oh how we have altered our perspective!!! Today was another 16 mile run and we were all praying passionately for rain. Unfortunately, the rain never came, but the sunrise was magnificent. So, yes, it was a good run.

I am always amazed by the beauty we see here,like the views of San Cristobal, and the silly things we must dodge in the road.....cows, bikes, tractors, cows, snakes. My reaction time for dodge ball will be great in the future!! I am also amazed that such an eclectic group of people can run with so much dedication for a common goal. If nothing else, this training has taught me alot about the tenacity of spirit when we know we are fighting for something worthwhile.

10 Weeks In and Going Strong!

The idea was born in March 2010, when Jeremy Sutton somehow convinced 8 other full-time missionaries to prepare our minds and bodies to train for a marathon. We thought he was crazy. Most of us are not runners. Yes, we climb volcanos and can shovel material selecto all day long, but some of us had never run more than 2 miles at a time. Yet, somehow he convinced us to train in the hottest place on earth 4 days a week, wake up at 5:00AM on Saturday mornings to do our long runs together (our only morning to sleep in!), make sure we are eating the perfect amount of carbs, fruits, and veggies, and drink so much water that the Amigos well might go dry! Don't get us wrong - we still think that Jeremy is crazy - but his enthusiasm and encouragement spurred us all on to try it out.

We are now in our 10th week of marathon training here in Nicaragua! So far as a group, we've logged over 1600 miles training at the base of San Cristobal Volcano in Chinandega. We decided to run for a cause together, hoping that when we reach the most difficult parts of the marathon, we'll be able to focus on the fact that we're not just running for ourselves, but that the rural community of El Chonco will soon have a health clinic that will improve the lives of over 1200 people.

We hope you can help us reach our goal and spread the word, and please keep our minds and bodies in your prayers. You can follow the remaining 7 weeks of training on this blog. If anyone wants to meet us in Tupelo to cheer us on, we'd love to have you join us!