Merry Christmas

Sunday, December 25, 2011 · Mike Davis

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate a very special day and trying to write something about running is a bit difficult, easier for me to write something brief about the gift of friendship.

Over the past few years I have been blessed with the opportunity to make many friends through working with runners. I could fill up this page with many of your names and I’m certain I wouldn’t remember all of them. Running has provided me a blessing that far outweighs a resting heart rate of lower than most. I think back to the first running group I participated in and how we bonded with others that feared the goal of getting to 13.1. Today we still have many close friends from that group and even one of the friendships have led to the young lady our son may eventually marry. Often I see many of the people from this group running all over Portsmouth and it brings back great memories.

As time passed, I turned to assisting with coaching running groups and my fears that these groups would not connect like my first group were quickly erased. Each group pulled together, encouraging, supporting, commiserating and ultimately in the end, hugging each other. Friendships were forged over pizzas, bagels and encouragement. Nothing brings people together like running! Out on the road runner’s press along not always having the fun I preached, but having someone to chat with made finishing possible when it didn’t seem possible. Many have told me that by themselves they would not have kept running, but the support and friendships kept them running. Little secret; many nights after a long day of work, the only motivation I had was seeing many you. It’s not always easy, and thank goodness for friendships.

So on this day that I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I also celebrate the blessings that he provides and one of those is the blessing of friendships. Through running, I am blessed with some of the greatest friends. Each of you is proof of that. It’s said: while runners run, they talk about everything but running, and when not running, they talk only of running. That’s quite accurate and most non- runners will never get it. Running bonds people in a very special way and far more than just when they are in their running shoes. Thanks to each of you and how you have touched my life and been a blessing to me.

Merry Christmas and may God bless all of you!

Mike