"Stick With Me, Friends!"

Humans were created with a spirit, mind and a body, designed to work together as a whole. As we seek to become healthy emotionally and spiritually-as discussed in our current series, Under Pressure - it’s important to remember the physical component. It's important, not only in an effort to achieve weight loss goals or improve our appearance, but to incorporate physical fitness into overall good health.

God wants us to think of physical fitness in spiritual terms. Living out a commitment to God includes honoring the bodies He has given us.

“…didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy
Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what
God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of
property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So
let people see God in and through your body.” (1 Corinthians 6.19-20, The
Message)

Part of our commitment to encourage people in their spiritual journey is a new endeavor called PCCfit. Our initial efforts are built around the upcoming Ukrops Monument 10K Race. Whether you’re a running or walking veteran or a first-timer, we want to help! Our focus is encouragement, accountability and a free T-shirt!

PCCfit has designed a program to help and encourage you, to be used in conjunction with the Y training team (if you so desire) or simply to enhance your personal preparation for the race.

Here’s what we’ll do:

• Weekly training for the 1 Mile Kids’ Run, led by Tricia Tiller. The cost to register for
  the First Market Mile is only $10. We will be using the Fit For Life Kids Challenge which is a program that encourages the kids to run 26 miles over the course of a 10-week period. You can pick up a running log at FMB or print one on-line. Kids receive incentive prizes at the 5, 10, 15, and 20 mile marks.
  • Weekly training run/walk, led by Laura Koelzer and Shelly Milburn. Time and location will be announced the week of January 20th.
  • Weekly Fitness Training Classes, led by Personal Fitness Trainer Roseanne Gutmann (call Roseanne to RSVP,405.3820). Classes will begin the week of January 27th.

PCCfit activities will not conflict with the Y Training Team activities, but can be an alternative or addition to your training if you choose to participate with the Y. Our hope is that by training together we can offer one another encouragement – not only to accomplish our physical goals,
but to incorporate a desire for good health into other areas of our lives. We can hold one another accountable – which always improves success rates! The best part will be the chance to run and walk together on race day, with our PCC friends and family cheering us on, knowing that we are
‘pressing on’ towards a goal that has great benefits for us personally and for our community!

Check out what Paul said in Philippians:

“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am
well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for
me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all
of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to
Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this
same course, headed for this same goal.”
(Philippians 3.12-19, The Message)

Register for the race today at on the Sportsbackers website (click for a direct link)or through the YMCA training team. There is no charge for PCC training.

Plan to stay after the second service on January 27th to get final information about PCC training - and invite a friend!

Questions? Ready to sign up? Email fitness@powhatancommunitychurch.org or call 598.1174.

We’re off to the races!