During my years as a student at St Aloysius College I received a great gift: with the help of Br Louis Piccinino I realised that running is real fun and it became a very important part of my life.
I love running, but unfortunately during the day find it very difficult to stop and go for a jog. Thank God I am an early riser and so manage to go for a good run after prayer at the start of a new day. After this, a good shower and breakfast, I am ready to face the new day ahead.
While running I pray, I reflect on problems I have to solve and I prepare myself mentally for the day ahead. My life is made up of meeting people and helping them deal with the problems they face, so a good run in peace and quiet is the best start to the day for someone like me. I feel that my mind is much clearer and my listening skills much sharper after the morning’s exercise.
Some people ask me: why do you run marathons? Well, I started running marathons to raise funds for people in need. Five years ago, together with two friends, we decided to run the half-marathon and we called our team Run for Others. Since then, every year we put together a team to walk and run the half- and full marathon to raise funds for a good cause.
But for me, running marathons is not only about raising funds. It is much more. The different phases a runner experiences in a marathon are very similar to the changing situations one encounters in life.
This initiative can help you lead a healthier life, start some exercise, meet God in a new way and do something for others
Maintaining the same pace while running reminds me about the best pace to keep in my life – not too fast, because I would never make it till the end, not too slow because the road would be very tiring, but the right pace, which keeps me going all the way. In life, when we go too fast we do not manage to last for long; we get exhausted and stop half way; and when we go too slow we lose hope of reaching the end. Maintaining the right pace ensures we keep on going.
During a marathon there are moments where tiredness kicks in and the desire to stop and call it a day is strong. In these moments I have learned to try my very best to take courage, to think positively and keep going. This has made me stronger and taught me to keep going, even when I am faced with adversity in my mission and in my personal life. When I feel tired or even unwell, I just try and keep the same pace and keep going.
Some people ask me: how can you pray while running? After meditating on a Bible passage I usually set out for my daily run and continue to reflect in silence and apply my prayer to my personal life. Running has taught me that I need to spend time with myself and with God to be able to be available to others and give my very best during the day.
This year I am once again organising a team, called Jesuits and Friends, to walk and run the Malta Marathon in February to raise funds for a youth project the Jesuits are working on at the University Chaplaincy. Those interested in more information may send me an e-mail.
This initiative can help you achieve your dream of leading a healthier life, start some exercise, meet God in a new way and do something for others.
Happy running!
mal-prov@jesuit.org.mt
Fr Patrick Magro is provincial of the Society of Jesus.