I literally grew up running.  My Dad, Gary McFarren, was the head coach of Bluffton High School's track team and I started running with him at practices, and ran my first race when I was 6 years old.  Needless to say, I have been passionate about it ever since.  I may not be the fastest, but I truly believe running isn't something you do, it is a lifestyle.  My competiveness is with myself, not with others.

That's what I truly hope to share with anyone I run with.  I talk with people every week that are timid about stepping out the door to run.  I always tell them that the first step is the hardest. But the joy in running comes not from the miles you've left behind you, but the miles you still have to cover in front of you, knowing that you're not just out punishing yourself, but you are improving the quality of your life. 

Simply put, I just love to run and love being around those who run.  Growing up around guys like Casey Shafer and Mac McAvoy continually feeds the fire. Going to area races for the last 25 years seeing these guys and building friendships that last a lifetime is something you can't get everywhere. 

But this 200-miler is quite another experience.  I have wanted to use my passion for running for God's glory for many years, but I was always at a loss for how I would do this.  But at a Christian youth conference in Holland, MI last year, I was moved by an organization called Active Water. So many of the high school students in our youth group wanted to do something with them that we started a year-long fundraiser for them.  I told them I would match their effort by running from Bluffton (where our church is) to the conference this year in Holland, MI.

I mapped the route to be 200 miles.  After a year of training and working together with our youth group, I set out at 5 a.m. on June 24th.  The plan was to run 60 miles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the final 20+ miles on Monday morning. 

Completely overwhelmed, more than 30 people showed up to see me off.  Plus the Bluffton Police Department gave me an escort the first 15 miles all the way out to Markle.  I was completely moved and motivated by the outreach and response from the community on this effort.  It truly was an amazing display of God's work. 

The first day had many more surprises, as my Mom and contacted many of my old high school running buddies to come out and run pieces with me.  It was amazing and it definitely made miles go by faster. 

I really didn't run into any issues until about halfway through Day 2.  There was a 20+ mile section that went through Goshen and Elkhart that had me running more on sidewalks (which I never do).  The up and down pounding I took from the curbs and pavement really jarred my left knee.  Over the following hours, it intensified and worked down into my left shin. 

By the start of Day 3, I was pretty much just hobbling along on one leg. Basically, for the final 70 miles, I was one big mess. My emotions were scattered, but from the support of my wife, Heather, my parents Gary and Rhonda and countless others at church (not to mention an immense following on Facebook), God gave me the strength to push forward to the finish. 

The best part of the run was that all the students from my youth group ran the final mile in with me to the finish.  While I had hobbled along a day and a half, their energy and enthusiasm, and the grace of God enable me to run pain free for the first time in nearly 80 miles.  

They were all so awesome and none of this was done by me.  We did it together.  From the very beginning, we worked together to help save lives. We set out on a goal to raise $2,000.  And right now, we have raised over $6,000 and completely funded an entire well in Zambia, Africa.  Through the work of so many, we have saved lives to be complete workers in God's Kingdom. 

Every day people ask me if I would do it again.  And it's always and easy answer...in a heartbeat.  I had to go through a little bit of pain to help others live. I'd take that any day.