Ryan Hall: Perseverance
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)
Posted January 18th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Ryan Hall
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall
Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry.
These past three weeks I have been shown what it means to persevere in the face of hard times. Sara and I arrived in Flagstaff on December 30th to stay with our friend, Alicia Shay, with the goal of helping her in whatever way we could through the recent loss of her husband. However, as is the case so often when we try and help others, we are the ones who get blessed from the experience. I guess this is why Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Alicia showed me what it means to get up every day and face her troubles with courage and strength. I am sure a lot of people are proud of how Alicia has endured this hard time. I am certainly very proud and inspired by her ability to just plain get up everyday and choose to live a life of joy, even though she certainly has the right to be bitter, angry and frustrated.
Perseverance is a trait that I have had to learn a lot about during my running career.
The other day I was reflecting on how, when I was little, I always built up Olympians as these super-strong people who were just good all the time. Now that I am going to be one, it feels ironic that I thought of Olympians in this way. When I look at my strengths I realize that one of the most important characteristics I have is simply the ability to get back up. One of my favorite verses in the bible comes from Proverbs and says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again…” (24.16). This verse resonates with my soul because I had so many hard times in college.
I can’t tell you how many 800’s I jogged in over 2 minutes, even though I was going all out, or how many races I was doing everything I could do to just cover the distance. I remember racing in the London Super Grand Prix 5,000M two years ago getting the applause from the crowd for the last place runner who is struggling in far behind the rest of the field. After all these hard times, I, like Alicia, had a choice to make: was I going to get up or give in? I think some of the most celebrated moments in human achievement should be those times when everything is going against a person and they are down in the dumps but they simply choose to get up. That’s real greatness!
Currently, I am beginning to get ready for my next big event, the London Marathon. I know that the next three months are going to be full of challenging workouts. I know that I will hit some of them and feel great, but I also know that there will be days when I might be a little tired and may not run as well as I would like, but I know that no matter what the training and racing holds I will be thankful for the good days and I will get back up on the days when I falter.
When I was getting ready for the Olympic trials I had to put my perseverance to the test. About three months out I got a cold and started really struggling for a couple of weeks. I was pretty down about it all and even told Sara that I didn’t think I would make the team. I was blessed to have her encouragement through those rough weeks. I stayed down for a couple of days, but then I gradually lifted myself out of the dirt and got back to work. I am amazed by how much that one decision to get back up changed my life. I want to encourage you that if you are going through a tough time, get up; you have no idea what is waiting for you on the other side. Even if things don’t turn out how you hope, you still will have developed the characteristic of perseverance, which will benefit you for the rest of your life.
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Photograph: Courtesy of NYRR
Related Stories:
- Sara & Ryan Hall:
Our Fall Adventures - Part 3
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 20) - Sara & Ryan Hall:
Our Fall Adventures - Part 2
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 19) - Sara & Ryan Hall:
Our Fall Adventures - Part 1
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 18) - Ryan Hall: Olympic Memories
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 15) - Sara Hall: The Calm Before The Storm
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 14)
Tags: alicia shay, American distance running, Arizona, bless, courage, elite athlete, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, elite runner, faith, flagstaff, flora london marathon, god, jesus, London Marathon, london2008, london2008news, marathon runner, overcome, perseverance, professional running blog, proverbs, Ryan Hall, sara hall, strength, tfs elite athlete blog series, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, track and field, u.s. olympic mens marathon trials
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The Final Sprint
I couldn’t help but note that the theme in this entry that stood out for me was
January 18th, 2008 at 4:46 pmthat of being connected. Beside the obvious lesson in perseverence (run with
perseverence the race marked out for you) I see how your relationship with
Alicia blessed both families & how your relationship with your wife helped you
during a vulnerable time in your preparation for the trials. I was there that
day in Central Park & will never forget all that transpired. Stay connected to
those who love you … Kevin
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
January 18th, 2008 at 4:51 pm[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
January 20th, 2008 at 12:39 am[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
January 20th, 2008 at 12:39 amThis post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m just your average runner hoping to break 3:15 in my next marathon, but fought off a horrible chest cold for 2 weeks and now I’m battling piriformis syndrome and a hamstring strain. All of this at the beginning of my training cycle and it really has gotten me down. But after reading this blog entry, I am motivated to see the inevitable… there will be an UP side to this. I am working on having faith in the Lord as strong as Ryan’s, just for the sake of living the way God wants me to. I realize that all I have to do is believe and trust, and I WILL GET UP. Thanks for the great entry!
January 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pmYour blog is such an inspiration for running as well as life!
January 21st, 2008 at 9:40 amRyan
Blessings to you in all do my young running friend. I’m a whole lot older than you and have been a runner for many years and often running and the expereince of it has served as a great metaphor for life and as a Christian I can gain even a greater perspective on this life we are given through my running experience.
Thanks for sharing your faith…
Psalm 115:1
Steve Griffore
January 21st, 2008 at 1:49 pmHolland MI
Ryan,
This was very inspiring. I wish you the best in London and at the Olympics!
-Stephanie
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 amGreat post Ryan - thanks for being so real about your faith. You have so many prayers behind you - continue to give God all the praise - it is such an encouragement to so many people. God bless you and your family
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 amRyan I came across this site this morning while doing a search on Christian Olympians. I am the program director at a Bible Camp in the upper peninsula of MI. This summer our theme is run the race. Could I have your permission to incorperate your video and some of the posts from your blog in some of our bible lessons? If so is there any way that you can send me a copy of your video that I can use in our chapel where I won’t be able to access GodTube?
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Ralph
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pmRyan-
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pmGreat blog and witness! Keep up the good work.
Nice…running and perseverence is making my life WITHOUT the bottle so much better.
Keep us “back of the pack” runners inspired!
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pmDear Ryan,
I hope you are enjoying my hometown, i grew up in Flagstaff. I now live in Farmington, NM. I am Navajo, just like Brandon Leslie, who is a good friend of mine. I coach high school xc and track, and i’ve been running for 25 years. I know what you mean to get up and to keep going, I grew up without a father, my grandfather was my mentor. When he passed, I thought of giving up, but his spirits have kept me going all these years, and in 2006 I lost my grandmother, who taught me about perserverance. Last October, my uncle passed away, he was the 1st person to ever invite me on a run, I will never forget that. Today, I coach, it’s my way of giving back, but running is also a part of our culture and history. I was pulling for you as I watched on TV, and i’m praying you will win a medal at the Olympics. You and Sara are doing a great thing for Alicia, i have never met her, but I did meet Ryan Shay through Brandon. Hope to see you on one of our famous trails in Flagstaff, actually i’ll be back home of the 8th and 9th of February. Good luck in London too. God bless you.
Lenny Esson
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 pmRyan-
What an inspiring blog & race at the olympics trials. Your determination to stand in the face of adversity is incredible. I was able to inspire my girls’ basketball team with showing them your race at the trials. Keep up the hard work and remember that Utah is cheering you on all along the way! Good Luck!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmRyan,
Glad to find this post; I am interested in tracking your thoughts and experiences as you prepare for the Olympics.
Your run in the Olympic Trials was inspiring to this fellow (but much slower) marathoner. I strive to give God glory in my running and appreciate that you do that as well.
I will be in London to watch the marathon and look forward to getting to see you run a race first hand. Best wishes and God’s blessings.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:07 pmryan,
February 1st, 2008 at 2:34 amIm 20 and from Australia and im a 1500-3000m 3:46 and 8:14 runner, and have been running so badly this season, runing times of 3:53-3:57 and a 3:59 when everything else suggests i should be breaking my pb’s. At my age i need to decide wheather to keep goin with my running or to go get a job or uni and put my running to the side.
I had never been to church before i watch ur video on Godtube, however my mum is Christian and i do believe in God, and from your inspiration, perseverence and and strength i have started goin to church and it is changing my life, i do not put my whole life into running a race anymore and it has change me from a bitter and angry person. I am goin to give my running everything i have as i love it and want to achieve my goal of one day being a olympian, But while i follow the life of being a good Christian thanks you so much and God bless you.
Ryan — I’m looking forward to following your career. As I watched the video of you on GodTube, I was thrilled at your desire to glorify God with your running. He has indeed gifted you. My prayer is not that you won’t change but that you will continue to change to be more and more like Christ.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pmRyan, just really want to enforce all that others have said in regard video on Godtube etc. etc.
Can you tell me (or anyone else), when you are over for the London Marathon are you speaking at any events? If so when and where??? Would love to bring my youth group along (and the old ‘uns!)
Keep up the good work. Len
February 10th, 2008 at 11:04 amHey Ryan, this is hayden hawks I am a young and improving distance runner from Utah. You can blog me at fastrunningblog.com my blog is runningwarrior. I am a really big fan of yours and have been watching your videos and learning all about you to improve myself. I was just wanting to ask some questions. Is it smart to do 10 mile tempo runs as a junior in high school, and how much miles should i do a week to really improve and what kind of workouts. I would really appreciate any advise you could give me to help me improve. If you want to check my blog for more info its all there. All right thanks for everything and keep up the hard work, you are an inspiration to many runners in Utah and everywhere. See you later and good luck at Bejing.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:46 pmHi Ryan,
April 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pmI wish you God’s guidance and lead as you prepare for the olympics. I am an average distance marathoner (around 3 hr marathon) and have been training for Boston 2008. Originally I had plans to run Boston in the 2:50s but now it won’t happen since I injured myself last January during my track session. The injury is healing slowly, but I have decided that I will not race Boston as I had originally planned. I think God allowed this to happen for a reason. I felt that I should drop Boston this year, but I have decided to keep going and “persevere” with my cross training. Your testimony about perserverance even though the going is hard is an ispiration to me. Thank you so much for your witnessing and I thank God that he put you on this earth.
Peace and blessings
Mario Fonseca
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Ryan and Sara,
Hope we’ll be able to hear about your travel to Zambia with World Vision. I just returned from Uganda/Kenya on a World Vision trip - great experience and appreciated meeting one of the children I sponsor - Juliet. Appreciate all you do for Team World Vision. Hope all went well in Chicago.
Blessings
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm