LA Marathon Story- I hate running but I LOVE Vitamin Angels

 by David J Foreman

Before I go any further, let me first say that I truly HATE running.  Hate is not a good word and should never really be used, but in my case there is no other appropriate word to describe my feelings about running.  Many friends and acquaintances’ have shared that “you will learn to love” running, but I just don’t see myself getting the “loving feeling” with the task at hand.  In April of 2011 I ran a half-marathon to support someone else’s lifelong dream of completing a half marathon.  We ran side by side the entire time (All of the race photographs of us individually had the other person in the frame due to our running the race together.)  The goal in that race for me was to help someone achieve their lifelong dream.  During the race, we only spoke a few words to each other.  We never stopped until running until we crossed the finish line.  With both of us injured prior to the race, prayer and music carried us across the finish line in 2:18:00.  Not a stellar time by most people’s standards, but a huge accomplishment for my running partner.  You see, it wasn’t about the time; it was about finishing the race.  Within minutes of crossing the finish line, we both looked at each other and said we had no idea how anyone could run a full marathon (2 half-marathons). We both could barely move the rest of that day and the day after was even worse.  This pain was another confirmation of the fact that I truly HATE running. 

Why would anyone put their body thru such a trial if they didn’t have too?  LOVE!  If you care about someone enough, you will go to the ends of the earth to help them out.  In the case of running the LA Marathon in March (18th) of 2012, it is all about LOVE---again.  I HATE running, but I LOVE Vitamin Angels (www.vitaminangels.org).  This is the phrase that will carry me through the next 18 weeks of training, hundreds of miles of running, aches, pains, dietary changes, body changes and a whole bunch more. 

Vitamin Angels is a non-profit organization that helps underprivileged, undernourished children worldwide.  Here is the mission statement from VitaminAngels.org: 

            Our mission is to mobilize and deploy private sector resources to advance availability, access and use of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, among at-risk populations in need.

Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality worldwide by connecting essential nutrients with infants and children under five. Essential nutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.

I learned from my Christian background that Jesus had a particular fondness for children. He often spoke about how we needed to “care” for them and not harm them.  Combining this background with the efforts of Vitamin Angels it became very evident that this was an organization I needed to support.  Throw in my current career as “The Herbal Pharmacist” and it is easy to see why Vitamin Angels is the beneficiary of my efforts in running the LA Marathon in March 2012.

My goal: To bring more public awareness to Vitamin Angels and raise funds to support their efforts around the globe. 

This race is not about me.  It is not about finishing in a certain time.  It is not about bringing glory to my business or myself.  It is about bringing glory to Vitamin Angels and God and nothing else.