To my children,

If you ever wonder what this book is really about, it’s not about running. It’s about redemption. It’s about saying yes when everything in you says no. It’s about learning that the race God sets before us isn’t measured in miles or medals, but in moments of surrender.

You’ve watched me change. Some of you saw the worst of me before you saw the best of me. You saw what happens when a man runs from his pain, and you saw what happens when he finally turns around and runs toward grace. You saw me break, and you saw God put me back together, one faithful step at a time.

Every mile I ran, I thought of you. Every time I wanted to quit, I remembered your faces. You were the reason I started, but more than that, you became the reason I kept going. I wanted you to see that change is possible — not through willpower, but through surrender.

There will be seasons in your lives when the road feels long and the miles stretch on forever. When that happens, remember this: you don’t have to run fast, you just have to keep moving toward the light. God doesn’t ask for perfection, He asks for faithfulness.

If there’s one lesson my journey has taught me, it’s that grace always meets us where we are, but it never leaves us there.

You carry my name, but more importantly, you carry His image. Wherever you go, run your race with endurance. Love well. Forgive quickly. Pray constantly. And remember that the finish line isn’t the end — it’s where true life begins.

With love,
Dad