Run So As to Win

Today was the Free Press Marathon which is a VERY big deal around the Seminary. The entire weekend was built around it and the guys start getting race fever very soon. Many of the seminarians have signed up for the race. A past vice-rector, and now current auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese, recognized the potential for the race to be a huge fraternity builder among the seminary last year, being an avid marathon runner himself. He urged the seminarians and some of the younger resident priests to take up the challenge of running as much as they can. Last year, over half of the seminary signed up for parts in the relay, or for the half with a few brave souls taking on the whole (including the then Vice-Rector and our Dean of Studies). It was an inspiring sight. All the seminarians were excitedly asking each other how their training was going and so many table conversations involved the Marathon that some non-runners would wince at the words race, training or run. This year our beloved bishop didn't provide the push that he did while he was with us but there was still a very strong showing of close to 40 guys participating in the event in various degrees, many braving the half and some doing their first fulls.

Saturday, we had an afternoon vigil Mass to accommodate the fact that many of us were going to be running in the morning and missing the normal community Mass. It was an interesting Mass and even the homily was focused on the Marathon. The closing hymn has got to be one of my favorite liturgical moments at the seminary to date. It was so amusing that even the rector and concelebrating priests were unsuccessfully struggling to not laugh as they processed out. There was even some impromptu clapping breaking out (an event that is SO out of the normal from the usual liturgical practices!!!). To make the scene even better, none of us could sink up our clapping either with each other or the beat of the song. There was so much win there that I think even Charlie Sheen would be amazed.


Sunday was RACE DAY! It was SUCH an exciting time. I got up at 4:50am and made it to our short intercessory prayer and blessing at the entrance before race time. This was my first half-marathon (only doing a short leg of the relay last year) and I was SO excited. I've been training for a year for this and the fact that it was all coming to a head was SO exciting. Downtown was so busy with runners everywhere. The starting line was SUCH a blast and the course itself was amazing. I went over the Ambassador Bridge, along the Detroit River on the Canadian side and then back through the tunnel into America (I couldn't help screaming 'MERICA when crossing back into the US). It was SUCH an amazing experience and I could go on and on about all the parts of the race (I might post a couple photos later) but I think I'll spare you the play by play. It was such a fun run and I got to go across a national border UNDERWATER! Finishing was amazing and immediately upon crossing the finishing line my legs both said "Enough of this, we quit" and now I'm hobbling around like I'm 80. All in all it was a great day and Christ was glorified!