by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
Some families go on vacations. Others go on, what they call, “Runcations!” Such is the case for Tim and Wendy Nijakowski. I wanted to interview Tim and talk about what drives him to run marathons. He was a little hesitant for the interview because he didn’t want this to be all about him. He doesn’t want any glory for himself. But as we began to talk, he shared,
“There are millions of people running marathons around the world. If running can inspire others, grow ministry, produce fellowship, and glorify God, then let’s write a story.”
And so we shall.
Tim and Wendy have been members of Christ’s Church since 1999, when Tim’s job moved them away from their families, and they were in search of a place where they could find community. Tim is a chemist, doing research and development for The Procter & Gamble Company. When they first arrived in Mason, they were expecting their first child. They have been engaged in serving Christ and this church in several areas through the years—through teaching a Sunday morning class, mentoring men’s ministry, working in Vacation Bible School and children’s ministry, and in the music program, among other things. They have raised four incredible sons here.
To Run and Not Grow Weary
Tim was eleven- or twelve-years-old when he first became interested in running, as well as doing all kinds of outdoor activities like hiking and biking. As a teenager, he ran cross country for Swanton High School, about a half-hour from Toledo, OH. He quickly fell in love with the sport, and competed in their division at state. He also ran track and made it to the state finals in the 800-meter race. Tim ran for Wright State University, and he loved the camaraderie he experienced there.
Fast-forward a few years to the present. Tim still loves to run. To date, he has run about forty marathons. That’s 40 x 26.2 miles each time! His very first marathon was in Columbus, OH. He’s run the Flying Pig in Cincinnati five times, the Boston Marathon, and many others, as well as countless 5k’s and 10k’s. He’s run in the wind. He’s run in the rain. He’s run with gloves on in the snow. He’s run a marathon with his mom, and with one of their sons. He has run marathons in 29 different states, and has a goal of running in all 50! Tim has come in third place in a marathon, and he says in his prime his finishing times were under three hours. Now, he says his finishing times are more likely under four hours, as maturity progresses.
When I asked Tim about his favorite marathons, Tim quickly recalled, “Nashville, Tennessee. Almost every mile of the race, there were country music bands playing on the side of the road. . . . and the Detroit marathon, where instead of just having a number on your bib, your name was printed on it. And, contrary to what people might think, they were very friendly spectators there.”
Additionally, Tim has participated in some “tough mudders,” bike races, as well as a number of Iron Man competitions and triathlons. He can tell you about the price he has paid. He has lost toenails, dealt with blisters, cramps, which he says, “Is just like life. There are always some curveballs that are thrown at you, and you need this enduring positivity to get through the long runs and tough events.”
One of his favorite passages of Scripture that helps him push through the challenges is Isaiah 40:30, 31, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (NIV).
His Strength and Support
Tim is quick to point out that he couldn’t do this without the strength God gives him and the undying relentless support he receives from his wife Wendy. When he’s preparing for a marathon, he trains six days a week, running about 60 miles during the week. He might log 1,000 miles before a marathon. He admits that sometimes it takes time away from the family, but Tim and Wendy have done a great job of creating special family memories through the outdoor vacations with their family of six. Tim jokes that he saw these words on a sign at an Iron Man event, “If you’re still married, you didn’t train enough.”
I asked Wendy what she does during Tim’s races. She responded, “I sit and cheer him on, I meet him at different spots, giving him some energy drinks or food. I take a backpack and sometimes hike a trail—and I get to do some sightseeing in all the beautiful states we’ve been able to visit!”
One of the things Tim enjoys most about running is what he calls his TAWG: “Time Alone with God.” In his words,
“Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up every day. It’s very therapeutic. Time seems to stand still; my mind wanders freely. There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit further, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul.”
Tim continues, “The obsession with running is really the obsession with more and more life. Running is very basic, going from Point A to Point B. You don’t have to think about it, you just go out and do it. . . . Running is a great metaphor for Christianity. You train, and train, and grow and develop, you go through the ups and downs, you fight through adversity, sometimes you need a map to find the route, and along the way you meet people who encourage you!”
Not only does Tim feel support from God and his family, he loves the support he can give to others through this sport. Running offers fellowship and a different circle of influence. Tim loves connecting with other people. As he shares, “God wants me to learn from them, or them from me—or both!”
The author of Hebrews puts it this way,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1, 2, NIV).
Where Running Meets Ministry
After completing a marathon, there is a huge sense of accomplishment for Tim. He admits that after running so many races, he has to be aware of how apathy can set in. But, he gradually overcomes the apathy while the sense of accomplishment remains, and he gears up for his next marathon. That sounds like the kind of discipline the apostle Paul said is necessary for living the Christian life.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV).
One of Tim’s greatest joys in running comes through his affiliation with Athletes in Action, with whom he ran a marathon in Morocco, where 99% of the population is Muslim. He loves that this partnership brings together his passion for ministry and running, sharing the good news of Jesus with a hard-to-reach demographic. Every summer, Tim volunteers at AIA’s “Tuff Camp,” (which stands for “Training You Farther and Faster”). This running camp in Michigan seeks to build the complete athlete (physically, mentally, and spiritually), bringing together high school students from across the country. Tim loves promoting this ministry so that more high-school athletes can participate in this amazing experience. You can find out more about this ministry and contribute here.
Tim feels strongly that this message needs to be communicated to today’s youth:
“It’s important to not build your identity through just running. I am a husband, a father, a son, a coworker, a scientist, a coach, a brother, a musician, a mechanic, a Christian. I am God’s creation. God gave me the talent to run. And, I run to glorify him!”