A comparison to life

Julia Davis really can’t give a specific reason why she began running; she just felt it was the right thing to do.

“I just got involved,” she said. “I felt the Lord was leading me to do it. I was going through some life changes, and it was a time to get closer to God.”

Her husband, Matt, joined her in order to lose weight and get in better shape. Before long, the two made up their minds to tackle the Mercedes together.

“When Matt started running with me, we just decided [to take on a marathon],” she said. “I just think it’s a crazy thing to do.”

The more she ran, though, the more she saw something bigger than just a race; she said she felt it was a comparison to marriage, as well as life.

“It’s a commitment,” she said. “You have to stick with it. Some days are easier than others. You jump into something, and it’s harder than you think.”

Davis said that like in life, pushing through the tough times training for a marathon was more than worth it.

“You can’t describe the feeling of sticking with it,” she said. “We got to see some beautiful places together. It’s harder than you think; you have to stick with it.”

In addition to the previously mentioned participants, several members of the Chilton Runners Club will be running, as will a five-man team made up of Clanton Police Department officers led by Chief Brian Stilwell.

For more information, visit the marathon’s home page at www.mercedesmarathon.com.