RUNBORN 2025 – July 25-26

(Dedicated to my Mom)

Each year I never know what type of event is in store for RUNBORN, or if I even can continue this ministry, but God always has a plan.  As I prayed and pondered ideas for 2025, I realized my mom would have celebrated her 100th birthday this year.  I thought – what better way to honor my mom, and all moms, than to do a year 6 of RUNBORN and dedicate this year’s event to her.  And although there are good chances of the weather being very hot, I decided to do it over my birthday, in thanks of my mom giving me life 59 years ago. (She is probably shaking her head about this though, still thinking I am crazy for running like this, especially at my age.)

NEW this year…

So this year is a little different to help RUNBORN grow.  We will see how God works this out, but this is the idea:

• • Date:  Friday/Saturday, July 25-26, 8pm-8pm
  • Location:  Pius X High School track
  • Steve will attempt to complete laps around the track for 24 hours, starting at 8pm on Friday

Please Read:
Updated Participation Rules
for Teams and Individuals
(07-18-2025)

Team Participation

• Steve is hoping to get 3-5 teams of 4-12 runners/walkers each to join in for the last 12 hours (Sat 8am-8pm)
• Each team will have one person on the track at a time and relay through their team members in whatever fashion they choose for the 12 hours. (Note: The whole team does not need to be present the whole time.  There just needs to be 1 person on the track and 1 support person present at all times during the 12 hours.)
• The challenge (for fun, and for additional motivation for Steve) is to see who can complete the most laps, Steve in 24 hours, or one of the teams in 12 hours
• But wait, there is another way to earn laps!!
• Teams will be indicated on the donation website
• Each team is challenged to encourage their families, friends, and social networks to make donations to RUNBORN 2025 and the donors can choose to “sponsor” their team on the donation website. As a goal, Steve challenges each team to raise at least $1,000 in donations from their “sponsor” donors.
• In addition to the actual laps completed, Steve and the teams receive 1 lap credit per $25 of donations they raise from their donation sponsors. The more sponsor support you get, the more laps you get!!

Individual Runners

• Individual runners are also welcome to join Steve on the track at any time and for any length of time.  They are also encouraged to have donors “support” them by writing in their name when making a donation.  They will be recognized for their running/walking support of RUNBORN 2025.

Please contact Steve ASAP via the “Contact” tab on the website (https://runborn.org/contact/ ) if you are forming a team, or if you are interested in being on a team.  Individual runners may just show up to participate.

All participants – team members or individuals – are encouraged to make a $25 participation donation on the donation website, but a donation is not required to participate.

Additional personal sharing from Steve:

My original thought was to attempt being on the track for 40 hours, in recognition of the “40 Days for Life” campaign, but I had to humble myself and just accept that would not be reasonable for me to even consider.  In honesty, I even have concerns about completing 24 hours, but I do feel God is calling me to at least attempt that duration.  As always, I seemed to get a timely sign of encouragement when I was having my deepest doubts and I needed it most.  As I contemplated shortening the duration, or maybe not even doing a RUNBORN 2025 event at all, completely randomly I received a letter in the mail from Charlie Williams, who had no idea at the time I was thinking about a 24 hour run for RUNBORN 2025.  In the envelope was an article about Aleksandr Sorokin, an ultra marathoner who holds the world record (set in 2022) for the greatest distance run in 24 hours, an astonishing 198 miles!  While that in itself was motivational for me, what really struck my heart and soul and drove me to continue on the path of my 24 hour quest, is what the article was really about.  In 2023, Sorokin had a goal of completing 200 miles in 24 hours, but 12 hours (and 102.7 miles) into it he called it quits.  Here is a quote from the article:

Sorokin humbly shared his experience on social media, expressing his disappointment at not achieving his goal: “I tried to run 24 hours, but did not finish.  My body wouldn’t allow me to keep running. I am sorry everyone.”

And further in the article, discussing his 2022 achievement of running 198 miles:

In a 2022 interview with the New York Times, Sorokin described the final hours of the 24-hour race as pure torture, where time seems to slow down, and each lap feels longer than the last.

Charlie included a note to me that in part stated: “I saw this article and just had to share with you! This guy ran 198 miles in 1 day! I know you’re a great runner, but 198 seems like a lot.”

I certainly will not be anywhere near achieving Sorokin’s distance feats, but this article and Charlie’s note gave me motivation to press forward with my attempt of 24 hours on the track, even if I am not able to succeed.  I know this won’t be easy.  In the end, it comes down to what God allows me to do.

 All I can do is my best.

Once again God has reminded me that it is not about what I can accomplish,

it is about surrendering myself to Him, trusting Him,

and just letting Him work through me and use that however He can.

I hope to see people come join me, whether in the friendly team competition, to individually run or walk some laps alongside me, or just to cheer and encourage me to “keep going”.  Anything you can do – prayers, stopping out to provide moral support, participation on the track, encouraging others to donate, or making a donation yourself – it all benefits the success of RUNBORN to support the women and children served by Women’s Care Center and St. Gianna’s. 

On the road I been blessed with amazing support.

But it’s been hard for people to run with me.  So this year I will challenge other runners and teams to join me!