CCM: A spiritual journey

FAITH is the belief in something and this was what led two missionaries here in the Philippines.

For Christian friends Kory Markel and Colten Murray, their faith had brought them Cebu to join the Cebu Marathon—the first race in their lifetime.

Markel, from the United States, and Murray, from Canada, both aged 19, are first-timers in Cebu.

“We had long been wanting to visit Cebu and it has been really a great atmosphere so far,” said Markel.

The two had been to different countries not for leisure but on mission work.

When they were in Nicaragua, Markel had discovered the Cebu Marathon site while surfing the net and signed up.

Running is a new sport for Markel, who was a snow boarder and a rock climber before.

But he says that even if the muscles used are different, the mental intensity is the same.

Murray, on the other hand, was a basketball player back in college and had only been invited by Markel to join him.

For most people, running is for fitness and recreation but for Markel and Murray, it's their worship time.

"It's my worship time. My time to think and push my body how far it can go," said Markel.

Markel targets to finish in three hours and 30 minutes, while Murray just wants to finish the race.

Both have been preparing together for the past six months.

Markel will run his first marathon, while Murray will be in the half-marathon. Both will be running their farthest distance.

A marathon is considered by Markel as his spiritual rite of passage in running.

And to keep them company in the run, both will be praying while running and will have Christian music on their iPods.

The two have been in the Philippines for three months. They were based in an orphanage in Antipolo.

They just arrived this weekend for the run and in the afternoon of Sunday they will fly to Malaybalay, Bukidnon for another mission. They will be in Africa by February and will be home by May.

The two are among the almost 100 runners from 15 nations who will join the fourth year of the Cebu Marathon, which will fire off this Sunday at the Cebu IT Park.