By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

Not too long ago, a friend forwarded to me a posting of a runner’s prayer. It was so uplifting. You didn’t even have to be Christian or a profoundly or devout follower on any religion to enjoy it and find it inspiring. This is what it read:

Being thankful for the privilege of running is a key component of most runner’s lives.

A Runner’s Prayer
Run by my side; live in my heartbeat;
give strength to my steps.
As the cold surrounds, as the wind pushes me,
I know you surround me.
As the sun warms me, as the rain cleanses me,
I know you are touching me, challenging me, loving me.
And so I give you this run.
Thank you for matching my stride.
Amen.

Because of my journalistic background, I always want to attribute credit to authors. So, I did a quick Google search and found not only the author for this one, but a slew of inspiring runner’s prayers.

This one was originally published in the “Day by Day: The Notre Dame Prayerbook for Students” in 1975.

Originally, I intended to publish something short and uplifting, but with so many good runner’s prayers out there, I decided to compile a handful of the ones I found most inspiring to me. I hope they touch you, too.

Prayer Before Facing a Race
A contemporary prayer for someone preparing for a race or marathon
By Tamra Dollin
Source: https://www.myjewishlearning.com

Dear God,
As I stand here, at the foot of Mt. Sinai,
I am filled with gratitude,
For You, who have given me life.
For my family, who sustains me with their love.
For my community, who support me with their warm embrace.
For the strength of my body, which I have cared for and prepared to greet this day.
For the capacity of my mind, to allow me to reach beyond what I thought possible.
For the courage of my soul, to conquer my fears and pursue my dreams.
For the spirit You have placed in me that will allow me to prevail.

I humbly ask of You…
Remove all obstacles from before me.
Help me to run swiftly and without impediment.
Grant me the courage to persevere in moments of weakness.
To see and do acts of loving kindness along the way.
And that through this endeavor, I may glorify your Great Name.

As it says in Isaiah 40:13, “…For those who hope in God will renew their strength. They shall soar on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary.”

Prayers don’t need to be too deep or full of theology. The simplest of them can touch us profoundly and rejoice our souls, like this one, I found in RunnersWorld.com:

May the road raise to meet you
May the winds be always at your back
May the race day temps
be between 45 and 55 degrees
And when we meet again
May you be in another age bracket

Runner’s Serenity Prayer

The popular “Serenity Prayer”, written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) in 1951, has been adapted to many aspects of life. Running is not the exception. I found a couple of them.

I could not find a source for this one:

“God grant me the strength to travel this distance,
The courage to push through pain,
And wisdom to know when to pick up the pace.
Without your guidance and understanding,
I could not be the runner I am.
Amen”

 This next one is authored by Josh Cox, and it goes like this:

“God grant me the serenity to accept when I cannot run;
The Courage to run when I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Before Hitting the Road

And to complete this short sample or runner’s prayers, there is this one if found in fuelrunning.com, which I find particularly uplifting:

O Strong and Faithful God

Make me swift, today, as I run; give me stamina, courage, and strength. But mainly, O God, give me faith in You and in myself. For you have said: “For they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength… they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint.”

By striding with this faith, my efforts will be crowned, and my spirit rest secure in you, and in the knowledge of a race well run.

I make this prayer in imitation of all the saints who have run to you. O Lord, amen.

It doesn’t matter to what God you pray, or to what religion you feel either affinity or affiliation. May it be God, Jehovah, Allah, the Universe, Nature or any other; most of us feel a bigger power guiding our steps. Voicing out our gratitude or putting ourselves in the hands of that superior being, is of great comfort when we are about to participate in our favorite sport. I hope these prayers will help.