My fourth Danville Half Marathon since 2021, on October 18, 2025, in the titular city of Virginia, became my first race back since my most recent ultramarathon over six months ago, a long hiatus by my standards but not odd factoring in the inevitable insufferable heat and humidity during the summer months where I reside. The conditions felt almost identical to last year, starting in the mid-40s and shooting up 15-20 degrees throughout. Because I have not entered a half marathon for an entire year, which is not far if I run slowly as during an ultra, I became anxious about how to efficiently pace. I would have been content with a simple sub-2:00, so I was pleasantly surprised when I, without exerting much energy, started out in the mid-7:00/mile pace and could maintain a mid-8:00/mile pace for the vast majority of the run, albeit I unsurprisingly decelerated the final 5K. I set a goal to run my fastest time on this course, which seemed doable considering I never ran a fast time here, and I managed to do so, officially in 1:56:59.2 and first place in my age group of 35-39, more than content for the day.

This marked my first running event following my father’s recent sudden passing from his earthly body and into his heavenly body, worshiping and rejoicing in the presence of Jesus. In addition to continuous prayer, I spent a lot of this run reminiscing about my father’s final moments. Though I know he is more alive than he has ever been and has more joy than I can ever imagine in this world as a foreigner, I as his son cannot help but still feel a vast void and sorrow in my heart; nevertheless, far greater has been my gratitude to Jesus for giving us eternal life by dying in our place, not because of anything we did but by his grace alone and our faith in Him alone, that He chose to reveal Himself to us so that we never lose hope and we as family in Christ will all see each other again one day, this time for eternity. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than I can fathom (Isaiah 55:8-9), and it is His purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21). Without Jesus, everything is meaningless, and all I care to do in my brief moment in this earthly body is meditate on His Word, pray, seek and do His will on Earth as it is in Heaven, and glorify Him in all I do. I find peace and comfort no matter the circumstance, resting in Jesus’ faithfulness.