As a part of our ING GA Marathon training program we always like to feature Team ChristianRunners who are coming from out of town. This year we have folks coming from all over the country and Canada. Christina is making the drive down from Russell Springs, Kentucky with her family for the race weekend. Plus, she'll be joining us at our carbo load dinner the night before the race. So, not only do you get to learn about one of our long distance training team members, but you'll get to know her and her family at the dinner as well. YAY!
Josh and Christina Turner
We want to thank Christina for sharing this with us and love her heart for running and the Lord!
Share about your experience with us in coming to know Christ:
I grew up in church all my life but did not really 'get it'. We went to a church that did not preach the message of salvation and going to church was just something you were supposed to do. When I was 17, my brother's girlfriend at the time sponsored me to go on a Chrysalis Retreat weekend. This is basically a retreat time to spend 72 hours of uninterrupted time with God without any outside distractions of this world. I was saved at a special candlelight service at this retreat but it was a slow growing process after this. We moved to Kentucky in 2000 and started attending Russell Springs United Methodist Church. Since that time, I have grown by leaps and bounds. I finally 'understood' that we are called to be disciples and wanted to study and worship more and more. I know that God has such great plans for me and I am enjoying immensely being His disciple.
Tell us a little about your running...
I have run for pretty much all my life since I was involved in volleyball, basketball, and track in high school and college. I started running on a regular basis 3 years ago when I joined Weight Watchers to lose some weight. I started entering races and eventually wanted to run longer and longer distances. I of course started running 5Ks and then eventually worked up to running a marathon in September 2007. I run every morning before I go to work or go out for the day pretty much no matter what.
How has God used running to change your life? How has running and your faith combined? Running and my faith has combined because it has given me a lot of confidence that I did not have before. It has opened doors to things such as developing a new FCA-Endurance huddle in our hometown of Russell Springs, Kentucky to try to reach more people for Christ.
How has running impacted your life? It has given me such confidence and also helps keep weight off. I also love to cook, so my hobbies go together pretty well... cooking, eating, and running!
Do you run regularly with someone in your area or solo? I always run solo.
What number marathon is this for you? How about other events? This is my second half-marathon, and I have done one full marathon.
What drew you to the ING GA Marathon? I was drawn to the ING GA Marathon because I was getting a little bored with just going out and running every morning with no real race in mind. I decided I should sign up for a spring marathon to get me through the dreary winter months and I wanted to run in a larger city. This is why I chose this one. It was not an awfully long distance from home and it would be a fun weekend trip for my husband and mom and dad and I.
Do you have another goal after the GA Marathon? I am thinking about possibly trying a triathlon next. Not sure when or where.
Tell us about how you are able to complete your running/training and still maintain a good family life? Always tough to juggle it all. I always get up early to run before my husband gets up. It actually gives me more energy than I used to have so the loss of a little sleep really does not bother me.
If the announcer at the finish line was going to tell people about you, in a paragraph or less, what is the one thing you would want people to know?
That I love the Lord first and foremost and seek to glorify Him in all that I do. I have a wonderful husband, Josh, who I love so much and also blessed parents, Dave and Bonnie Rings who also mean the world to me. The three of them are such positive Christian influences on me and make me want to be a better person. I pray that when people see me in my day-to-day life, they do not see me but see the face of Christ.
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