“Champions are made not born.”

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him (Proverbs 8:30)

In what area has God designed you to be a champion?
What easy things can you do each day to compound and make you a champion for Christ?

In the process of doing a Google search yesterday morning to find the date for the U.S. Olympic trials in 2008 for the women’s marathon, I came across the story of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Men’s Marathon that took place on November 3, 2007.

From that search, I learned that the U.S. Olympic Committee awards different cities the right to host different Olympic events and that the location can be different for men and women spaced out quite far in time.

Here are some excerpts from today’s exciting Link of the Day:

Ryan Hall wins Olympic Trials in record time in the most exciting and emotional men’s marathon in American history.

New York, November 3, 2007
Is American distance running making a comeback? Today in Central Park, Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell convinced the world that American marathoning is not only entering a revival, but its top contenders are well equipped to dominate.

Under skies clouded by the threat of Hurricane Noel, history was made at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon on a hilly multi-loop course. Hall, already the American marathon debut record-holder (2:08:24) and half-marathon record holder (59:43), broke yet another record with his 2:09:02 win—the fastest Trials time ever. Following Hall’s near two-minute lead, Ritzenhein and Sell completed the team.

Hall, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, later said he was “surprised by his [fast] splits.” (After the first half) he maintained a serene expression for the remainder of the race. His second half was an astounding 1:02:45, which is unofficially the fastest half-marathon ever run in Central Park. His 18th mile was his fastest (4:32). After the race, Hall called the day a “dream come true” in which, after taking the lead, imagined himself “at home in Mammoth on a training run with [his wife] Sara riding her bike beside me and encouraging me.”

Shortly after the race concluded, it was announced that (28 year old) Ryan Shay of Flagstaff, AZ, who had collapsed at 5½ miles and was rushed to the hospital, had died. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Shay family, and ask that everyone please give them the respect and space they need right now,” said Mary Wittenberg, race director and New York Road Runners president and CEO. Read more… [http://www.nyrr.org/races/pro/mens_trials/story_08.asp]

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for the new breed of American champions you are raising up for the Olympics in China in 2008. While I don’t fully understand the purpose, I sense You’re up to something really BIG. We ask you to bring comfort and peace to Alicia Shay and her children after the recent death of her husband Ryan. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
The Next Generation of Champions – complete story about the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the men’s marathon
[http://www.nyrr.org/races/pro/mens_trials/story_09.asp]
Blessings to do the easy things each day which compound to give you the slight edge to be a champion for Christ!