DAYTON, Ohio — Running has always been part of Amy Compston’s life.
For the past several years, however, the miles have taken her in a different direction.
An iliotibial band injury eight years ago curtailed her competitive running about the same time her Amy For Africa ministry began growing rapidly. Between serving, traveling, fundraising and praying over a ministry reaching children and families in Uganda, running races had to wait.
Until Saturday.
By the grace of God, Compston was a marathon runner again.
Compston, 42, competed in the Air Force Marathon in Dayton with her husband, Chris, serving in the familiar role of her biggest supporter. She had spent months preparing for the 26.2-mile race, including logging training miles in the heat of Uganda while serving with Amy For Africa.
Her goal was to finish in less than four hours.
She did it — with room to spare.
Compston crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 55 minutes and 17 seconds, averaging 8:59 per mile. She finished ninth among 64 runners in the women’s 40-44 age group, 53rd among 544 female runners and 295th among 1,777 overall competitors.
It was an impressive return to marathon competition for someone whose running journey has been intertwined with her faith for more than a decade.
Thirteen years ago, Compston ran the Boston Marathon in about 3½ hours. Her finishing time, however, wasn’t what she remembered most about that day.
Compston crossed the finish line about 30 minutes before two bombs exploded nearby in the 2013 Boston Marathon terrorist attack. Twenty-two family members who were there to celebrate with her at the finish line, left only minutes before the bombs exploded. They were safe while walking down an alley but clearly heard the explosions.
The experience became another defining moment in her life.
Compston believed God had already spared her from a life involving drugs and alcohol and from a serious automobile accident. Now she had been just minutes removed from the site of a terrorist attack.
Amy with her Air Force Marathon medal and Chris, her biggest supporter with her in Dayton.
She had already given her life to Christ, but Boston deepened her conviction to surrender everything to Him. That commitment eventually became the foundation for Amy For Africa.
Running continued to be part of her life.
Compston completed a 50-mile ultramarathon in November 2013 and ran seven marathons with Chris alongside her in 2014. She returned to the Boston Marathon two more times and competed in the New York City and Chicago marathons, along with numerous other races.
Eventually, injury slowed her competitive running.
But it never extinguished the desire.
The Air Force Marathon gave Compston something to chase again.
She trained with the determination that had characterized her earlier running career, preparing physically, mentally and spiritually for another 26.2-mile test.
Saturday, the work paid off.
Mile 24 was particularly difficult. But Compston knew if she could maintain a 10-minute-per-mile pace over the closing miles, she would break the four-hour barrier.
She leaned on something even more familiar than running.
Prayer.
“I prayed the whole way,” she said. “At least 98 percent.”
Prayer has long been central to Compston’s life and ministry. Her competitive drive isn’t far behind, and she sees a connection between the two.
“It’s GOD’s grace,” she said. “HE knew I would need the relentless drive to do HIS will. I praise HIM for it.”
That drive has been evident in the work Amy and Chris have done through Amy For Africa.
The couple has devoted much of their lives to serving in Uganda, where the ministry operates Christian schools and works with children and families. Through years of construction projects, fundraising challenges and ministry opportunities, the Compstons have watched Amy For Africa grow far beyond what they once imagined.
They credit God for providing the resources and opportunities that have allowed the ministry to reach hundreds of people with the gospel.
Even Compston’s marathon training sometimes provided moments that made her wonder about God’s provision.
About a month before Saturday’s race, she set out on her longest training run — 14 miles through Uganda.
As she left the gated area where she was staying, Compston noticed a dog she had never seen before. When she started running, the dog followed.
And kept following.
For all 14 miles.
Running alone as a woman in Uganda can carry risks, but the dog remained alongside Compston throughout the run. Afterward, neither Amy nor Chris saw the dog again.
Maybe it was simply a dog that wanted to run.
Or maybe, Compston wondered, it was protection at just the right time.
Saturday in Dayton, there was no mysterious running companion beside her for 26.2 miles.
But Compston didn’t believe she was running alone.
From the opening mile through the difficult 24th and finally across the finish line in under four hours, the runner who has built her life around faith, prayer and perseverance believed God was with her every step of the way.
MARK MY WORDS 2 