Run for Missions 2015 Official Report

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 12.50.28 PM 6^th Annual Run for Missions 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon

October 31, 2015 Haviland, KS

Both Run for Missions 2015 events are now history! The 6^th annual races in Haviland were an extra big success this year. We had record turn out of 235 registered for all three events. This was despite the fact that we had an all day rain storm the day before the race that made for muddy conditions especially for the 10K and half-marathon. Over half of the half-marathon course had to be re-routed due to extreme mud in the wee hours before the race started.

I have said several times this year that running 100 miles from Wichita to Haviland is way easier that directing a race like this. I really do believe that is true! But it is still so fun for everyone who is brave enough and willing to try to have a chance to run and/or walk for missions.

I am super grateful for two new factors that contributed to the success of the 2015 races. First, I have a planning team that has accepted a part of responsibility and planning for the event. Secondly, we had enough volunteers to help with all of the tasks leading up to the race day and on race day. We could have used more out on the course directing runners accurately as well as directing vehicle traffic, but we had plenty for everything else. Did you know that there were 50-60 people working as volunteers on the weekend of the race? It takes a big team to make it all a success!

Official race results have been posted here. Great photos from “Casey Roberts Photography” have been posted to the Run for Missions Facebook Page. “Like” the page while you are there. Alternately, for those that don’t use Facebook, you can view the pictures here.

The 7th annual Run for Missions 5K, 10K, and Half-Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, October 29th, 2016! There are a couple ways you can get partner with this event (in addition to running, walking or volunteering on race weekend) if you are willing to get more involved. We are looking for more business sponsors in 2016 who are willing to support at any level. The race is pretty much break even with expenses and registration costs but the business sponsors help us to truly make it a profitable fundraiser for missions! Another way to help is that we are looking for a couple more people to help on the planning team to fulfill some specific functions. You can email [email protected] for more information about becoming a business sponsor in 2016 or in joining our planning team.

100-Mile Fundraiser Run

November 11,
Wichita to Haviland, KS

The 8th annual Run for Missions 100 Mile Fundraiser Run from Wichita to Haviland was held on Wednesday, November 11th. This day was scheduled at least six months in advance but ended up being perhaps the windiest day in all of November! The run started at 5am at the Ministry Center in Wichita with a balmy and humid temperature of nearly 60 with mild southerly winds, which would end up being the nicest weather of the whole event. 5 people were with me from the very start including Manny Garcia (who ended up with 30 miles!), my friend Andy Bowman who only was able to stay the first 7 miles, and Tamron Thornburg, Arri Evans and Joel Macy who were able to stay for about 22 miles each!

Gabe Hancock joined me at about 6:30am and put in 33 miles. Shortly after the sun came up the winds really started to pick up from the south and then southwest. By noon the winds were west-south-west and about 97 of the 100 miles of the course run straight west! The winds were sustained in the low 40s and began to gust into the 50s in the mid afternoon. From somewhere around 2pm-5pm the wind direction was due west which also lowered the temperatures a bit and I put on a long sleeved shirt. This was the hardest part of the whole day. The high winds really slow down the running pace and also cause dehydration. I hit 50 miles in 10 hours and 60 in about 12 hours and 20 minutes. Darkness set in about 6pm and I transitioned to lots of warm clothes and layers!

Mike Neifert joined me around mile 20 and then stayed through the end where he put in exactly 62 miles. Tim Marshall joined me from mile 50 through mile 82 or so. Ellen Losew joined me from about mile 73 through the end and Shawn Richardson joined me from mile 82 to the end. The pacers and fellow runners are my favorite part of the Run for Missions. The conversations and perservence on their part are motivational and inspiring to me.

Miles 60-100 were slower than the first 60, which is normal. I felt a bit nauseous those last 40 but never threw up this time. I never had a super low or super challenging stretch this time somehow. My working theory is that the tougher the conditions, be it wind or cold, help keep me focused and I finish stronger and better than when all the conditions are just right.

I arrived at the finish line in Haviland at 5:08am for a total time of 23 hours and 8 minutes, which is the fastest time ever for the Run for Missions 100. The only eventful thing in the last few miles was that about a mile from the finish, as the batteries in my headlamp were giving out and it was pitch black out, I tripped on mounded dirt and sand on the side of the road, and tumbled face first into the ditch. Thankfully I bounced right back up and ran to the finish only with a scraped knee and an extra thing to laugh about.

The Run for Missions events are over but the fundraiser is not over yet. You can still give any time up until the end of December 2015. If you want to support the cause you can give online at www.crowdrise.com/runformissions or mail a check to EFCMAYM (memo: Run for Missions), 2018 W. Maple St. Wichita, KS 67213.