Episode Description
Our guest this week is a 75-year-old ministry director who's #1 for most marathons run in the state of Georgia, and I ran the same race as him in neighboring Alabama last weekend.(2:00) I start with a race recap of what it was like at the Big Beach Marathon in Gulf Shores. Did I run my fastest 26.2 miles?
(8:15) The fun chat with George Southgate from North GA begins with the scary tale of him having a heart attack towards the end of one of the 481 marathons he's completed. Hear what that light-headed feeling was like at that WV race, and why french fries and cholesterol could've been the issues.
(14:14) I ask his secrets to success as a 75-year-old who still can run 210 races, including 40+ marathons, all in a year's time. 2 words: Keep Going. George also calls them "runs," not races, where he gets to see a lot of places created by God. He's closing in on 500 marathons run in his life, already topping 100 in Georgia.
He says running and traveling are also (19:02) platforms for him to spread the Gospel, sharing stories and answering questions while running with friends or strangers for hours. He has advice for you too about pace and listening to your body. (25:27) We met recently at a 50 States Marathon Club meeting. George from GA has run marathons in all the states 3 times so far. How does he keep track and how does he find the time to do all these races?
(31:51) We dive into his favorite marathons and places he's been to run, from Snickers in Albany and space-themed ones...to Philly, Fargo. Boston. Next up in his marathon journey: the best view of the Mississippi River.
For nearly 50 years, (39:36) this avid runner has also led Gospel Ministries to Children in North Georgia. He talks about what they do and how he uses a puppet named TOBI to tell thousands of kids about God, helping some of them and their parents to get Saved. (45:57) George also compares the experience of running a marathon to the journey of faith and life, with ups and downs, injuries, variations in speed. you will also find out his fastest marathon and how long those races take him now.
(52:53) But WHY do all these marathons? He explains, then (55:08) gives us a closing Prayer, then tells a quick story about giving a lot of his race shirts away to church kids. (1:00:03) Our final segments include the story of a heart patient and surgeon running a marathon together, then some inspiration from a tennis superstar.
Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Subscribe to it! For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.
