Anne Misner participated in the Weekend of Service by joining with Team LSA and running a half-marathon.  She raised money and awareness with 38 other runners and volunteers by running in the Indianapolis Marathon.  Here is a re-cap of her experience in her own words.  You can still give to Anne by visiting this page.

Race Details!

Anne at the finish line!

Weather: The temperature at the start was a mere 34 degrees, yet despite two straight days of cold rain there was no precipitation on race day, and runners were greeted with many moments of sunshine peeking through the autumn folliage surrounding the beautiful race course.

The Starting Line: It turned out to be quite a challenge for thousands of runners to make it to the starting line due to some traffic problems on one of the exit ramps leading to the race location. Fortunately for me, one of the 68 amazing LSA volunteers who arrived before the crack of dawn to set-up water stations volunteered to park my car so that I could make it to the starting line. Thank you, Doug!!  In addition, the race start time was delayed by 15 minutes due to the traffic situation, allowing just enough time for some of the team members who were running together to find each other with despite the hectic start. It was an incredible experience to take off with 6,400 other runners down the narrow streets at Fort Benjamin Harrison, a former military base turned state park.

Along the 13.1 Mile Way: Along the course we met many wonderful people, including a man with a shirt that read “Pray For Linda” who was running 4 half marathons on behalf of his co-worker who had just been diagnosed with cancer.

One of the most challenging stretches of the race was mile 8, when I knew I still had 5 miles to go yet was developing an side stitch.   Fortunately, my wonderful friend and teammate Julie lent me her sweatshirt to tie around my waist (see finish line photo!) to put slight pressure on the cramp, a strategy that is definitely not in the running textbooks but has helped me in the past. Mile 10 was a new challenge, when my side stitch had subsided but mentally it was difficult to convince myself (and my legs) that I could keep running for 30 more minutes particularly given the two very long hills which I could see looming on the horizon.

In addition, this was an emotional run for me in light of the cause we are supporting and out of intense feelings of gratitude for the overwhelming amount of  love and encouragement I have received from friends and family from the very beginning stages of my training. There was one point on the course when we rounded the corner upon a serene lakefront and I literally started choking up with tears.  I quickly learned in that moment that crying did not make for a safe combination with cold air temperature and my increased breathing pattern, and I fortunately was able to pull myself together and save the tears for the finish line.

What helped me the most during these difficult stages was knowing that so many cared for and were praying for me and my team, and the incredibly vivid picture of each and every one of my supporters surrounding me and pushing me towards the finish line.

Crossing the Finish Line: It was an especially heartfelt moment when my team crossed the finish to be greeted on the sidelines by our fellow team member, Steve, and his wife and children.  Steve had been told just two weeks prior that he had colon cancer, and he joined us at the finish line to share in our Team LSA celebration as well as to rejoice as a team family in the moment we had all been praying for – due to early detection and the grace of God, our friend and teammate is now completely cancer free.

Thank you again for all the ways you have come alongside in sharing in this amazing experience with me.  I am forever grateful for your involvement in my life.

With love,

Anne

Julie and her friends

Have you ever had a little seed planted in your mind?  A seed that you thought you could just ignore or laugh away.  Last year a tiny seed began to take root in my head and after a few weeks of resistance, I caved as I began to realize that God was the gardener.   I learned—again—that He knows what’s best.

Two of my friends were going to run a half-marathon for Team LSA (Loving South Africa).   “You should do it, too!” they said. I just laughed.  I’m pretty sure I added that they were crazy.  The thing is, I am not a runner, and I think it is torturous to make someone run for even a half hour!

But, God didn’t give up on me.  He knows me very well and was very aware that sometimes it can take me a while to catch on or give in.  So at the most unusual times and in the few quiet moments of my life, He brought Team LSA to mind.   Again and again and again.  Did God want me to run the half-marathon? Unfortunately, it’s my nature to respond with “Uh oh-I better not tell my husband or he is going to encourage me to listen to God!”

As I listened to God he showed me that it would be good for me to have some to time to train for the race and good for my boys (then 2 years old and 3 months old) to have a break from our routine for a few hours a week.   By joining team LSA, I would be helping to wake people up to the fact that in South Africa 6500 people a day are dying from AIDS.  God was offering me a chance to help save some of them by participating in this race.

Finally, I did tell my husband… that I decided to run—not that I was thinking about running. I had eight weeks to train. Did I mention that I am not a runner?  Did I say I had a 3-month old baby?  I wasn’t exactly in prime condition to run a half-marathon. As it turns out, that was no problem for God.  I ran the whole thing—at a faster pace than I ran my training runs!  It was good for me. It was good for my boys.  It was good for the community to learn about Loving South Africa and the truth of the AIDS pandemic.  $10,000 was raised by Team LSA!   It was good to save actual lives of real people whose moms love them as much as I love my boys. Wow- His plan was good!

So this year, I’ve started early. I’m training already for the October 17^th race at Fort Ben.  When I’m training, I’m imagining that you are running the race with me—as an army in “Loving South Africa Red.”  Will you join us?  This year’s events include a 5k run/walk, half-marathon, marathon, kids “marathon” and a marathon relay.  Click here to learn more about Team LSA, sign up for an event or even how to train with us.  I truly can’t wait to hear about how God plants a seed in you and to see how He can use us to save precious lives!