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Sports

Local Athletes Run First Jerusalem Marathon

The race created new friendships and reconnected old ones, while raising money for a worthy cause.

“…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Every marathon finisher knows the definition of perseverance. Breaking through both the physical and mental “wall” of a marathon is sometimes more than our bodies can take and we have to press on knowing that our training has been enough for this day. But for the runners of the first annual Jerusalem Marathon held on March 25 those words were never truer.

Two days prior to the marathon, Jerusalem had its first terror attack in many years. But that didn’t stop the will and determination of the 10,000 runners registered to run one of four races (marathon, half marathon, 10K or 4.2K) on that day. Among those runners were my friend Anna Koutchmar and myself. Anna (Herndon, VA) was running her first half marathon (13.1 miles) and I (Sterling, VA) was running my fifth marathon (26.2 miles).

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The marathon racecourse covered almost the entire city of Jerusalem and provided us with an opportunity to see many sites in a way most tourists will never be able to experience them. But these views came at a cost and the payment was the considerable number of hills you had to conquer to reach the finish line!

Growing up in Israel, Anna was familiar with the challenges a race in Jerusalem might hold. And, as an experienced marathoner, I knew about the mental capabilities needed to break through that dreaded “wall.” Running a distance race is always a challenging experience but the terrain of Jerusalem provided a bigger challenge than we expected. There are no hills in the DC area like those in Jerusalem to help properly prepare for this event. You just have to focus, train hard and never give up running the race set before you.

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The runners were very diverse, with a mix of many different languages and religions. Anna is originally from Jerusalem and is of the Jewish faith, while I grew up as a Christian in Kentucky’s part of the Bible Belt. So between the two of us, we were a perfect example of the cosmopolitan flavor offered by the race. Many people commented on the challenge this course offered, while others discussed the spiritual experience they had.

Prior to December 2010, Anna and I were strangers.  But, as it turned out, we had several “small world” connections. I had originally become familiar with the Jerusalem Marathon through Ashburn resident Elena Steinke.

I met Elena about a year ago during a triathlon-related event. After meeting her for dinner and becoming friends, she invited me to join her in her homeland for Jerusalem's first ever marathon.

While I lacked a passport and funding for such a trip, Elena informed me about Team Shalva, which would provide airfare and hotel expenses if we raised money for Shalva – The Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel.

In 2009, I had raised funds for McLean Bible Church’s Jill’s House as part of my commitment to run the Marine Corps Marathon. Jill’s House is a home for special needs children. It's a place where parents can bring their children to get a respite from the daily demands of caring for a child with special needs. Because I attend McLean Bible Church, Jill’s House holds a special place in my heart, and therefore the cause seemed like a great fit.

When I found out about Team Shalva, I posted the information on the Facebook walls of people I knew who might be interested in running the race. While my Facebook friend Cindy could not participate, her friend, Anna, wanted to go because her entire family lives in Israel and, in particular Jerusalem. Plus, she has a heart for special needs children.

When Anna and I both made the decision to join up with Team Shalva we decided it would be a good idea to begin fund raising as a team rather than individually and became friends.

As part of our commitment to run the Jerusalem Marathon, Anna and I raised more than $7200 for Shalva. Knowing we were partnering with Shalva, which provides its services free to the children, gave us the extra incentive to finish the race. Some of the children of Shalva will never be able to walk, let alone run, a race of this nature. What we came to find out over the course of time was that Israel’s Shalva had been the model for Jill’s House in DC. It was just another connection that helped keep us focused over the course of our training and the race itself.

Elena, who was born in Jerusalem, ran the half marathon with her husband, Rolf. As we all planned for the trip abroad, Elena and Anna came to the realization they had known each other while playing on the streets of Jerusalem together as children and now they live only minutes away from each other! And, to take it a step further, their aunts, who live in Israel, have been friends for more than 40 years!

The night before the race, Team Shalva members were encouraged by the words of Rabbi Kalman Samuels (Founder and Director of Shalva) when he read from Isaiah 40:31: “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.“ He also quoted from Zechariah 4:7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.” Level ground was not quite what we received on race day and, like most athletes, we did not set any personal records. We did, however, complete the race of a lifetime.

Anna and I are thankful for the friendship we have formed through our race training and fundraising efforts for Shalva. We also want to send a special thank you to the citizens of Israel and our Team Shalva teammates who not only cheered us on during our race but who opened their hearts and homes to us while on our journey to the finish line.

[Editor’s note: The funds raised were not used to offset the cost of the hotel and airfare. El-Al Airlines and the Crown Plaza hotel donated those costs.]

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