Run for God helped her rebuild strength

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, Barb Jacobson decided to change her life by running.

“In 2014, I was diagnosed with breast cancer up in Wisconsin,” Jacobson said. “When I finished treatment with that, the hospital up there has a program where it trains you to do a sprint triathlon. I did really well with the swimming and biking, but with the running I figured I could just walk it, I mean it is the last part of the race, I could even crawl just so I could finish it.”

When she moved to Andalusia, she saw a group of people on the street running and decided to look into it.

“I asked my daughter, who lives down here, and she said that it was probably the Run for God class,” Jacobson said. “So I found out where they met and took up with them.”

Jacobson said that she wanted to join the Run for God class to challenge herself.

“I wanted to challenge myself to run a 5K,” Jacobson said. “Also it is just a really good camaraderie and supportive group.”

Since she has started running, Jacobson said that she feels stronger, mentally and physically.

“You are stronger than you think you are,” Jacobson said. “And it helps to reinforce that. It has also made me a lot more thankful for a lot of things not only the strength, but friendships and just a general good feeling.”

At the age of 62, Jacobson said that she has struggled with the past two 5Ks that she has participated in, but it’s completing them that is worth it.

“I have never been a really athletic person until the last few years,” Jacobson said. “But it’s fine. If you walk part of it, it is fine. You do what you can to complete it.”

For those interested and becoming part of the Run for God group, Jacobson said that it is more than just a running group.

“There is also a walking group that is a part of it,” Jacobson said. “So don’t be intimidated by thinking that you have to run it all. The people are so supportive and so caring. It is just a good outlet if nothing else. The God part of it is also not forced on you, I mean, we pray before and after each of our runs just so we know that God is out there protecting us.”

Run for God’s 5K Challenge is a 12-week Bible study program that allows runners to combine faith and endurance training in a way that helps take people, even those who have never run, through their first 5K.

The next Run for God Class 9 for beginners will begin March 9, at 7:30 a.m.  at the First Baptist Church student building.  A group also is being organized in Opp, and will begin on Sat. March 16, at 7:30 a.m. a the Opp First Baptist Church fellowship hall.