Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church Run for God coaches from left are Gary Wilkerson, Jeff Claxton, head coach/instructor Steven Bush, Chris Poole, Gil Milton and Werner Slabber. Not pictured are coaches Hugh Brown, Bob Berry and Sandy Berry.
Photo by Katie WardSignal Mountain Presbyterian Church is lining up nine coaches and calling all runners for its June 9 launch of Run for God.
"We would like to have dozens of runners come out. The more the merrier," said SMPC Run for God head coach Steven Bush, a self-proclaimed "running enthusiast" who runs in 5k and 10k events. "It's an opportunity to find more purpose in a sport that otherwise is just getting out there and exercising. It is about finding a balance and purpose, while sharing God with other people."
He will coach runners for 12 weeks on Thursdays at 7 p.m. The sessions begin with a Bible study and end with training. Meetings will be at the former Signal Mountain Middle School track now owned by Signal Mountain Athletic Club.
Bush said Run for God is geared toward people that typically don't run but would like to start, although some serious runners also come out.
"It starts out slow and easy," he said. "Week one starts out with a brisk five-minute walk, then 60 seconds of jogging followed by 90 seconds of walking, alternating for 20 minutes. We will have a supportive group to encourage people to continue on."
IN THE RUNNINGTo sign up for Run for God, call Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church at 886-2190 and ask for Christie Wildman. Participants must purchase a Run for God Bible study book that costs $14. To sign up online, visit here and click on the Run for God tab. Runners do not have to be affiliated with Signal Mountain Presbyterian or live on the mountain to join the team.
The series will culminate with a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Labor Day 5k near Chattanooga State.
SMPC Run for God administrative support leader Christie Wildman, who plans to run with her husband Ben and their daughter Kyla, 11, said it will give her family a chance to grow closer to God, get in shape physically and spend quality family time all at once.