🎙️ SHOW NOTES
Episode 280 — Hawkins FUNdraiser and RoTwelve Ministries : Choosing the Right Path
Welcome back to the Upward Running Podcast, where faith fuels your fitness journey. Host Dean Thompson is joined by returning guest Angie Hawkins for an inspiring episode filled with community stories, training wisdom, and spiritual encouragement. From tackling shin splints and cadence struggles to finding motivation after setbacks, this episode reminds us why running is more than just miles.
Dean’s Thoughts this week connects Michael Jordan’s rejection story to RunClub’s own Mitchell Hollis—showing how setbacks can fuel relentless determination. Alongside that, we highlight Rebecca Wang’s cadence question, Richard Ball’s return to running, a deep dive into Bible trivia, and a powerful reminder from Romans 12 about choosing the narrow path.
In This Episode:
- Special guest Angie Hawkins shares life updates and ministry highlights
- Community post of the week: Shin splints, cadence, and using a metronome
- Run of the Week: Richard Ball finding discipline and joy again after loss
- Bible trivia: How many chapters are in the Bible?
- Behind the scenes of the Hawkins FUN-raiser benefiting Row 12 Ministries
- Faith in action: Row 12’s work in Guatemala bringing food, care, and the gospel
- Health & science: Why processed foods—not inactivity—drive obesity
- Dean’s Thoughts: Choosing the Right Path (Michael Jordan, setbacks, and perseverance)
- News: Ruth Chepngetich’s doping ban, Joe Vigil’s passing, and the power of late-in-life endurance sports
- Testimony: Ozzy Osbourne’s unexpected story of receiving and carrying a Bible everywhere
Highlights:
- Cadence can be improved gradually with metronome training—don’t jump straight to 180
- Tight calves are often a hidden cause of shin splints
- Consistency beats striving—get back up after setbacks
- Row 12 Ministries brings food, education, and Christ to Mayan communities in Guatemala
- Processed foods digest quickly and drive obesity, not reduced physical activity
- Michael Jordan’s rejection, Oprah’s firing, and Mitchell’s health journey all show the value of persistence
- Faith & fitness: The narrow path may be hard, but it leads to life and satisfaction (Matthew 7:13–14)
From Coach Dean:
- Use setbacks as fuel for growth
- Don’t take shortcuts—whether in running, health, or faith
- Sometimes the path less traveled is where God strengthens us most
- Run and live with perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5)
“Sometimes hard things are good, and sometimes good things are hard. Take the narrow path—it’s worth it.” – Coach Dean
Links & Resources
- UpwardRunning.com — membership, training plans, and the RunClub App
- Become a RunCoach — Bring Upward Running to your Churchs
Scripture & Motivation
- Romans 12:1–2 — Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice
- Matthew 7:13–14 — Enter through the narrow gate
- James 1:2–4 — Trials produce perseverance
- Motivational Thought: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – FDR