These results reflect a win and a personal best for one of my closest friends, Matthew Waller. I have been lucky enough to call Matthew a colleague for four years, a member of the church where I serve as pastor for about a year, and training partner in running on and off over the last three years.
Matthew is a quiet man. He can be loud at times. Ridiculously funny. But, in his soul, he is quiet. I have even seen him irritated on group runs with too much talking. Strange, that a loud-mouth like me feels drawn to someone who can be stressed among "all the people" with "all the words." He is always professional, knowledgeable about many things from baking bread to building altars to coaching athletes. He takes the running industry seriously though it is one of his most recent areas of expertise. Matthew is an excellent writer, which you might not know.
In his own running and training, he has been prone to injury. He trains and prepares very wisely, but tends to pick up a little nick or a tweak just as things start really going in the right direction.
But it would appear that he is breaking trends. He won what was I am sure was a hot hilly half-marathon this morning in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He ran a 1:14 which his training indicated was very realistic. I predicted a 1:12 or 1:13, but like I said, it was likely hot and hilly and he must have run alone from the gun given that second place was four minutes behind. These are not easy race conditions.
I am very proud to call Matthew Waller my friend. I trust Jesus, that the two of us will be friends for years to come. Even if not, I am thankful for the time thus far.
Sincerely,
George Linney
Pastor, Tobacco Trail Church
No comments:
Post a Comment