Volunteer helps get running club off the ground

Edgar Rivera first came to the Mission with his church, Calvary Ventura. The group served a meal and Edgar immediately wanted to get more involved.

What happened after that first volunteer experience?

Something got through to my heart. It was really just an idea I had to tie spiritual and physical health together. That's what running did for me. I just want to share that with others. I want to give back what God gave to me, for his glory.

How did you get into running?

When I was 36, I went for a walk with my coffee at the Promenade. I saw all these people running and thought, 'I could do that.' The following week I ran for a half mile and felt like I almost died. The next week I came back and did a mile. After a month and a half, I did six miles. At this point, I felt less like I was trying and more like I was training. I told my wife, 'I'm going to run a marathon.' She said, 'You're crazy.' In 2012, after three-and-a-half months of training, I did it.

And 10 years later, how has running changed for you?

When I started, it was always about doing better on the next one, getting a medal, and what I could accomplish on my own. In 2019, I came to Christ and gave my life to Him. Three weeks later, I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.

It slowed me down a little, but I scheduled my surgery, and I told God, 'Going forward, I'm going to run for your glory.' I started thinking about doing something with the Mission, and it's changed everything for me.

It's been about a year since the running club began. What were those early weeks like?

One of first runs we did, we went up to a trail in Ventura. A young guy started sharing with me, and after a while I said, 'Do you realize you've been running for four miles?' That's hard to do, over stones, in dirt, and talking the whole time. The joy that gave me was huge.

I didn't think the club was going to gain so much traction from the get-go. We prayed and we planned, but God had all the plans. It blossomed right away.

What kind of impact has the running club had on you?

I thought that I was going to be helping this group, but it's really been a huge blessing to me, seeing their joy. One of the things we talk about is that in races-and in life-you're going to feel like giving up. But there's a finish line, and you're going to have