Professor Boaz: Running with JesusSample

On endurance and running

Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

In 2019, for the first time in history, an athlete - Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, has broken the 2 hour barrier of finishing a marathon, as he ran the Vienna Marathon in 26.2 miles in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 40 seconds. 

Kipchoge already holds the official record of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds, which he set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. 

Also, in 2019 at the Chicago Marathon, Kenyan Brigid has broken the women’s world record. She won the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds. 

Amazing runners!  

Long distance running is quite different from short distance running. Short distances are over quickly. An athlete runs 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 meters rather quickly. It is done and over with. Long distance running is very different. It is 10,000 meters, 42,195 meters ( 26.2 miles, a marathon), 50 miles, 100 miles, 200 miles, and so on. A sprinter usually cannot run a marathon. Usain Bolt, the famous fast 100/200 meters athlete has never run a marathon. 

Long distance running is an endurance sport. It is a sport which has been run from the beginning of human history. The Bible talks about long distance runners who were the most important people in the armies of King David and others- e.g. 2 Samuel 18. These were the bearers of the good news or bad news. These were endurance runners. 

The Bible always juxtaposes endurance and running with hope. This is quite clearly seen in several Psalms in the Greek translation of the Bible. It uses the same word which is used in this verse, “you need endurance.” Here are three of the many examples: Psalm 9:19, “The poor shall not be forgotten, the hope and endurance of the poor will not perish;” Psalm 62:5, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; for my hope and endurance is from him;” Psalm 71:5, “For you, Oh Lord are my endurance and hope, my trust O LORD, from my youth.” 

All marathon runners develop endurance, in the hope they would finish strong. How do marathon runners develop endurance? Here are a couple of things endurance scientists observe. 

Endurance requires building aerobic capacity. Long distance runners usually develop larger hearts and decreased heart rates, which enables them to use oxygen efficiently. Long distance runners perform at around 75-65 of peak aerobic capacity. Short distance runners perform at closer to 100 % of peak. Long distance runners also increase their endurance by running at their lactate threshold. This means, they become good at clearing lactic acid, and reusing it to fuel their muscles. Endurance runners practice good carbohydrate loading. These are also called glycogen stores. 

In this marathon run called life, the Bible gives us the tools to develop a good “aerobic capacity,” a good “lactate threshold,” and good “glycogen stores,” so that we may run the “the endurance race set before us, looking to Jesus, the great the starter and finisher.” (Hebrews 12:1, 2). 

In this marathon run called life. He is our hope. He is our endurance fuel. He is our aerobic capacity builder.

A prayer:

Oh Lord Jesus, the great marathon runner, as I run this race, please help me build my endurance, in the hope that I will finish strong, holding your hand.