🎙️ SHOW NOTES
Episode 282 — Run Uphill: Embracing the Hard Things
Welcome back to the Upward Running Podcast, where faith fuels your fitness journey. In this episode, Dean Thompson and Mitchell Hollis cover everything from cooler mornings and long runs to marriage milestones, consistency in training, and the inspiring stories of runners pushing past obstacles. Together they reflect on what it means to truly run uphill—both physically and spiritually—and how embracing the hard things strengthens us in running, faith, and life.
In This Episode:
- Dean celebrates 26 years of marriage with Holly — the picture of a biblical, steady relationship
- Post of the Week: John Sandifer’s long run — cooler temps make all the difference
- Run of the Week: Mike Powers lifting up his wife Heather as she returns to running
- Why consistency beats talent, gadgets, or the “perfect plan” every time
- Ma Allen Smith — the 93-year-old marathoner redefining aging and resilience
- Hannah Jones’ story: “Run Uphill” as a motto for both running and faith
- Scripture Spotlight: Hebrews 12 — running with endurance, despising the shame, and looking to Jesus
- Dean’s Thoughts: Cheating, justification, and the modern-day Adam & Eve
- Track & Field Highlights: USA Championships — standout races and a 16-year-old phenom at 800m
- Trivia: What is the lowest marathon in the world?
Highlights:
- Slow, hard summer running makes for fast fall races
- Consistency is the secret weapon for both running and walking with Christ
- “Run Uphill” — a powerful reminder to embrace hard things and train for life’s battles
- Ma Smith’s legacy: 93 years old, 36 miles a week, and no excuses
- Lessons from Hebrews 11–12: running with endurance, embracing discomfort, and despising shame
- Dean’s takeaway: shortcuts and justifications are modern echoes of Adam & Eve’s fall
“Run uphill means doing the hard things—both in training and in faith. That’s where victory is found.”
Scripture & Motivation
- Hebrews 12:1–2 — Run with endurance, looking to Jesus
- James 1:2–3 — Count it all joy when you face trials
- 2 Timothy 2:15 — Be a worker who does not need to be ashamed
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 — Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through Christ
Links & Resources
- UpwardRunning.com — membership, training plans, and the RunClub App
- Become a RunCoach — Bring Upward Running to your Churchs