"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."-Hebrews 12:1
Forrest Gump I Ran Video
"Forrest Gump meets the Flock of Seagulls in this invigorating run."
Run Forest, Run!-j/k! Running a race takes a lot of endurance and practice. The longest I ever ran was 8 miles when I ran long distance for my high school. It took a lot of practices after school for me to reach that number of miles, which one doesn't reach overnight-unless you have been running for a long time. I didn't start running until that year as I opted out of baseball my senior year.
I really don't have much experience in the sports of track and field. However, I love to do cardiovascular workouts to keep my heart pumping to keep physically heatlhy now. I run or do some physical cardio-exercise at the local fitness center at least once a week. In the summer time, I try to go outside and run in a soft terrain as possible (easy on my "bad" knees).
Since, I can't speak much of the sport of Track & Field, I'll let you check these links to speak for itself:
I ran a 5K for the first time this past month (July of 2004) at Morris' annual "Prairie Pioneer Days". My main goal was to finish strong with no time as a target. I finished 25 minutes (10th of 15th overall; 5th of 6th for the 20-29 Age bracket), which will be my goal to beat the next time a run a similar race. Here are some other potential 5K Runs:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."-1 Corinthians 9:24
Forrest Gump - Life is like a box of chocolates
"You've just received a medical report that you have a terminal illness... or that a relative has just passed away
It could be that you just won the lottery or a promotion at the job...
Perhaps you are struggling with depression and don't know where to go
Many of us at one point in our lives wondered what life was all about. Perhaps you've stumbled upon this and are wondering right now what life is all about.
At the age of 22 I was first introduced to Jesus and portrayed by the bible. I was amazed at his life. It was as life full of purpose _ it involved a plan and a destiny.
I remember asking myself the question why am I here?
Life is like a box of chocolates and there is a destiny that God desires all men to have. We must choose to follow that destiny."
"This short electronic video highlights the 2007 Hershey North American Finals. You don't need to be star athletes to participate in track & field...you just need to have fun! Get ready for an awesome time! If you're between 9 and 14 years old and love to run, jump, and throw!"
-2009 Morris Host StateTrack
"
Event Type:
State
Event Date:
06/27/2009
Event Time:
9:00 AM
Rain Date:
Coordinator:
Deb Weinreis
Phone:
763-571-1305
Email:
weinreis@mnrecpark.org
Location:
University of Minnesota - Morris
600 E. 4th Street
Morris, Minnesota 56267 "
{Archive in Morris}
Event Info Host:
Morris Community Ed...
Type:
Sports - Sporting Event
Time and PlaceDate:
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Time:
9:00am - 1:30pm
Location:
UMM/MAHS Track Field
Street:
626 E. Second St. (behind the Regional Fitness Center)
City/Town:
Morris, MN
Contact InfoPhone:
3205894394
Email:
ssterud@morris.k12.mn.us
Description
Morris Community Ed is looking for at "least" 6 volunteers for the annual...
"Hershey's Track & Field District Meet"
http://www.hersheystrackandfield.com/
What? Youth from surrounding districts (e.g. Sauk Centre) will be competing to qualify for the state competition, thus going to the national competition.
Where? UMM/MAHS Track Field (behind the water tower)
When? Saturday, June 21st @10am (9am-volunteer check-in) -1:30pm "
We need volunteers to work at concessions, timers, etc..throughout the whole time of this event if possible! FREE food (e.g. pizza) for all volunteers during lunch break too!
...see {Photo Gallery}
Athletes
Carrie Tollefson, born and raised in Dawson (1 hour+ SW from Morris) competes in the 1,500 in the Summer Olympics in Athens 2004
Family Fun Day, an annual event at Pine Ridge Park (north of Herman, MN) spear-headed by R.E.M. in west-central Minnesota
{Photo Gallery}
-2008 (Saturday, June 14th 2008)
Area-view of the large group of participants
Opening Ceremonies-walk partially around the track before the national anthem
"Avery Blackwell chats with Ryan Hall about The Altitude Project.
The Altitude Project is a Christian running camp designed to develop college distance runners to excel in competitive running and Christian living, and to establish meaningful and lasting friendships among athletes and coaches nationwide. We encourage the development of the total athlete -- mind, body, soul, and spirit."
Movie
Joshua by Bert Salzman Award Winning Educational Film Video
"..Director: Bert Salzman; Producer: Bert Salzman. Dear Friends, The " Bert Salzman collection of classic 16mm educational films have recently been saved from extinction and are now available for viewing on the Internet Archive. Link: http://www.archive.org/search.php?que... The films originally made in the early 1970's as human values films for social study classes include the (Academy Award winner Angel And Big Joe and Geronimo Jones (which premiered at the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City).."
Physically Challenged
The Game Goes On
"World-class wheelchair racer, national record holder, two-time Paralympian and Wheelchair Track & Field USA's 2000 Female Athlete of the Year, Judy Siegle travels and speaks nationally and internationally on how God has empowered her life before and since the auto accident that left her paralyzed in 1979. Beyond being a competitive racer, Judy is a master's trained social worker, downhill skier and active volunteer. She challenges her audiences to live their lives without limits"
"Iowa's Olympic hopeful Lolo Jones. Lolo grew up in Des Moines and is the 2008 World Indoor Champion and USA Indoor Champion. She is a participant in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games."
Lolo Jones Says Virginity Makes it Difficult to Keep Relationships, Admits Trouble Keeping Boyfriend
"Olympian, 29, reveals difficulty with relationships because of her "virginity".
For more on this story, click here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/olympic-athlete-lori-lolo-j..." Lolo Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "...more commonly known as Lolo Jones,[1][3] (born August 5, 1982) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 60 and 100 meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at LSU. She won indoor national titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the 60 m hurdles, with gold medals at the World Indoor Championship in 2008 and 2010.
She was favored to win the 100 m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but she tripped on the penultimate hurdle, finishing in seventh place. She went on to win silver at the 2008 World Athletics Final. Jones is the American record holder in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.72.[4]
..
Personal life
Lolo was named Lori at birth, after her mother, but started going by "Lolo", she says, in order to differentiate the two when telephone callers asking for "Lori" made the matter confusing. Though according to Lolo's mother, "Lolo" is what she has called her daughter from birth.[1]
A 2005 graduate of Louisiana State University, she currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is sponsored by Asics and Oakley. She is an American of Native American, African, French and Norwegian descent.[1] She is also actively involved in Christian ministry.[1][21] She is a devout Evangelical Christian, and often prays before competitions, and even talks about her faith on her Twitter and blog.[1][21]
Charitable contributions to Iowa
While visiting Des Moines for the Drake Relays, she made a surprise visit to her alma mater, Roosevelt High School, to deliver a pair of new Asics running shoes for each member of the school's track team. She also delivered a $3,000 check to buy indoor practice hurdles and for improvements to repair the school's track surface.[26]
In July 2008, while back in Des Moines for a send-off ceremony before the 2008 Summer Olympics, Jones donated her $4,000 prize she earned from winning the 100-meter hurdles at the Olympic trials to Renee Trout, a single mother from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who was hit by the Iowa flood of 2008. Asics and Oakley each matched Jones' $4,000 prize, bringing the total donation to $12,000.[27] After the sendoff ceremony, Jones flew with Trout to Cedar Rapids aboard a private jet provided by the Iowa Farm Bureau to tour the neighborhoods affected by the flood, including Trout's.[28]
Olympic Runner Allyson Felix Depends on Faith - Inspirational Videos
"Posted Byinspiredfaithabout 6 hours ago
Allyson Felix takes no credit for her success. She was raised to have a strong faith and became to love the Lord on her own terms as a young woman. As she strives for gold she has not lost sight of whats most important... striving to please the Lord.
"
-2008 China
=>Moments
Beijing Olympics track & field - Day 5 Recap
" Added: August 19, 2008 (Less info)
Sanya Richards led in the stretch but was outrun to the finish in the 400 meters, Lolo Jones clipped the ninth of 10 barriers in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday. Just like that, two of America's top runners let Olympic gold medals slip away. "
=>USA Athletes
*referred by Godtube.com
Allyson Felix - 200m Final U.S. Olympic Track Trials 2008
"Allyson Felix wins the finals of the Women's 200m dash with a time of 21.82 at the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Finishing second and also qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in August are Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker. There is an interview and some slow motion. The NBC team of Tom Hammond, Ato Boldon, Ed Eyestone, Carol Lewis, Lewis Johnson and Dwight Stones are on hand as well as a post race interview with the winner by Bob Neuman. NBC SPORTS does a great job, especially with Olympic events!" 'honor to God"-from Marshevet Hooker (dived for 3rd place!)
"an evangelistic and teaching ministry working with track and field athletes throughout the world." Stephanie Brown Trafton Testifies From China as Planned-
4 Winds Worker Wins USA Track and Field�s First Track and Field Gold Medal
By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service Monday, August 18, 2008 "
MADISON, WISCONSIN (ANS) -- For two years, 4 Winds Christian Athletics provided Olympic athlete testimonies to the media throughout the world, including the underground Chinese church.
According to a news release from 4 Winds, one of those testimonies has been from Stephanie Brown Trafton. An underdog, Brown Trafton won the first gold medal for the track and field team in Beijing, sparking the team to win more medals throughout Monday evening.
�I knew the United States didn't come in here as the favorites (in the discus),� Brown Trafton said in a news release. �I knew we hadn't made a final since 1984, and (I) just found out that we hadn't won gold since 1932. I just thank God for giving me the strength to be the one to do it.�
Stephanie Brown Trafton Celebrates
(Xinhua Photo)
Brown Trafton's testimony was one of the testimonies to go into China through underground newspapers and radio stations broadcasting from free countries into China.
The news release reported that she has been one of the leaders to lead Bible studies for American athletes at the Olympic village. They have been so popular that they added another day.
Brown Trafton and her husband are from Galt, California, and she is a 2003 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She was a member of the 2004 United States Olympic team.
4 Winds Christian Athletics� President Steve McConkey said in a news release, �Stephanie has been growing in her faith every year. Her desire to be used by the Lord is tremendous ... (My wife) Liz ... and I have seen her grow into a stronger Christian woman.�
The news release stated that after the qualifying round, McConkey e-mailed Brown Trafton and told her that he thought she could win it all in the final. More Christian Olympians will perform this week.
The news release said that McConkey is asking Christians everywhere to pray for all the athletes in China.
Before the Olympics, the 4 Winds website server was damaged by Chinese Denial of Service viruses, and McConkey was told that he should not go to China as he provided testimonies to the underground church.
The news release said that 4 Winds opposed an Olympic boycott from the beginning, but has encouraged athletes to witness to the media after their performances in China.
4 Winds is an evangelistic and teaching ministry working with track and field athletes throughout the world.
For more information, go to www.4wca.org
Olympian finds victory over fear,
by Tim Ellsworth � BP Published by Minnesota Christian Chronicle � August 2008 "BEIJING � Prancing around the house in a Mary Lou Retton leotard, a 4-year-old Stephanie Brown Trafton wanted to be just like the gold medal gymnast from the 1984 Olympics.
"I think a lot of young girls looked up to her during that Olympic season," Trafton said. "She was graceful, beautiful and full of energy. I wanted to wear the USA uniform just like her."
At 6-4, Trafton doesn't bear much physical resemblance to the petite Retton. But her dreams of following Retton to the Olympics came true in Athens in 2004. This year in Beijing, Trafton is again representing her country at the discuss competition, which begins Saturday.
"I plan on going into the event with a determination to make it onto the medal stand," said Trafton, a native of Arroyo, Calif. "My first round will be doing just what it takes to make finals. In the final round I will be confident that I have the ability to compete for a medal."
Trafton has more on her mind in Beijing than just the competition. She also is leading a Bible study in Olympic Village for any athletes who want to attend. Her purpose is to help encourage and support the athletes during their long time away from home and to provide an environment in which they can pray for their needs and thank God for their accomplishments.
Her personal journey to faith in Jesus Christ began shortly after she graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 2003. Trafton says her faith in the Lord was "very weak" as she was growing up. After graduating from college, she found herself with a life that should have been fulfilling � a college degree, success in sports, a strong relationship with her boyfriend of five years.
"But I still felt like I had climbed the ladder of success only to find out that the prize at the top didn't mean much," Trafton said. "The prize I had won wasn't lasting or eternal, and it didn't seem to have any purpose."
Trafton began searching for purpose in her life, and she says God began to pursue her heart.
"After lots of reading and praying, which was hard at first, God put it on my heart to take a chance with Him and start exercising a little faith," she recounted. "I had always been taught that reality was only what could be seen, heard or touched, so acting on faith was a big step for me. I asked God to help me in my unbelief, and by His grace He started acting in my life in ways that could not be ignored."
The more steps Trafton took in God's direction, the clearer the path became to her. Finally, Trafton said she discovered that God's love was the ultimate eternal gift.
"I knew that I had found the purpose that most of us seek," she said. "I had nothing to lose and everything to gain in Him."
The 2008 track and field season has been a successful one for Trafton. But prior to making the Olympic team, she began to lose confidence in her abilities. She wasn't sure she would qualify for Beijing and wasn't sure she would win a medal even if she did.
Friends and family members kept asking if she was going to achieve various levels of success, and Trafton always replied in the affirmative. But deep down, the doubts persisted.
Then one day, after taking her insecurities and fears to God in prayer, she said she had a breakthrough.
"God put in my heart one of the most commonly used phrases by Christian athletes � one that I had been ignoring for a long time," Trafton said.
That verse was Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
In thinking about that verse, one word jumped at Trafton: "can."
"I realized that Christ has the ability to make the impossible possible in my life," she said. "I believe now that I can do the things that He has placed in my path while looking to Him for strength.
"The outcome of my season is out of my direct control, but as long as I stay disciplined, I know that I 'can,'" she added. "If it is God's will, I will accomplish my goal of winning an Olympic medal.""
"BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) -- Eric Liddell, the subject of the Academy Award winning film, Chariots of Fire, and his passion for sport and Christ, is featured yet again at the Olympics - but this time, it is his life story in the book entitled �Running the Race�, published by Evangelical Press of Webster, New York, also translated into Chinese, that is drawing all the attention and inspiring attendees of this year's Beijing Summer Olympics.
A news release from Christian Newswire says, �A leading publisher of
Cover of Running the Race
Reformed and Evangelical literature, Evangelical Press, has opened new doors of opportunity by partnering with a local Chinese publisher in the translation and distribution of tens of thousands of copies of an exciting new and readable biography, authored by Rev. John Keddie, an adviser to the film Chariots of Fire. The Chinese version of the book is being officially distributed via both Christian and traditional bookstores in Beijing and in China generally.
�In addition, the author, John Keddie and Evangelical Press' marketing associate Peter Cooper, are on the ground in China promoting the book during the final Olympic week in Beijing but also in Weifang where Liddell is buried and Tianjin where Liddell taught.
�The book itself captures the enduring fascination of the life of Eric Liddell, known as the �Flying Scotsman� who won the Gold medal in the 400 meters race in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris but, more importantly, illustrated that honoring God is the highest human achievement especially when faced with enormous pressure to compromise. It also tells of his missionary work in China after his Olympic success and how he remained in the country during World War II and died in the land of his birth.�
Peter Cooper, Design and Business Development Manager for �Running the Race in China�, reports from Beijing, �It is thrilling to see how eager the Chinese are to read �Running the Race� and embrace the story of Eric Liddell. In fact, Liddell, who, due to his birth and death in the country is honored as China's first Olympic champion and they are drawn to this great man who cut his athletic career short so that he could serve Christ among the Chinese people during their hour of severest trial.
Eric Liddell -- The Flying Scotsman -- in action
�And best yet, through our efforts, the gospel that Eric preached, is still being preached today in the land that he loved. The race that he started, is still being run today for God's glory.�
In his last letter to his wife, written on the day he died, Liddell talked about suffering a nervous breakdown in the camp due to overwork, but in actuality he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumor, to which being overworked and malnourished probably hastened his demise. He died on February 21, 1945, sadly five months before liberation.
He was greatly mourned not only at the Weihsien internment Camp but also in Scotland as well. A fellow internee, Langdon Gilkey, was later to write, �The entire camp, especially its youth, was stunned for days, so great was the vacuum that Eric's death had left.� Liddell's last words were allegedly �It's complete surrender.�
Fifty-six years after the 1924 Paris Olympics, Scotsman Allan Wells won the 100 meter dash at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. When asked after the victory if he had run the race for Harold Abrahams, the last 100 meter Olympic winner from Britain (in 1924), Wells replied, �No, this one was for Eric Liddell.�
Eric Liddell was voted in The Scotsman newspaper in an August 8, 2008 poll as the most popular athlete Scotland has ever produced.
For More Information:
To learn more about the Eric Liddell and �Running the Race�, download a sample chapter from the book and read Sebastian Coe's foreword (British former Olympic Gold Medalist and chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 London Olympics), please visit http://www.evangelicalpress.org/esales/product_info.php?products_id=1893. Also check Peter Cooper's blog http://www.runningtheraceinchina.blogspot.com/ as he reports on the day to day activities surrounding the promotion of �Running the Race� in China. "
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Opening Ceremonies-walk partially around the track before the national anthem