Women’s Prayer Run Offers Prayers for Gratitude
August 19, 2022
Kyle Knox
Managing Editor
The annual Women’s Prayer Run will take place this fall, bringing women together to trek the 65-mile journey across the Community. As in past years, the relay-style run will run with purpose and prayers focused on “gratitude” from Nov. 5-6.
“The purpose of this run is more about prayer and not pace, it’s about bringing people together and running for those prayers knowing that it’s not a competition and we’ll get to where we’re going safely and together,” said Renee Jackson, District 5. She is one of the coordinators and co-founders of the Women’s Prayer Run.
This year’s run will be the ninth year and will return to a complete in-person gathering. In the last two years, the coordinators adjusted due to the pandemic and was smaller with limited participation. However, everyone became excited once the Community learned it would return, similar to previous iterations.
The two-day run starts in District 7 near the wetlands and proceeds throughout the day until they rest near the halfway point of the entire route. Typically, a camp is set up for everyone to stay together overnight before proceeding the following day and finishing in District 1. The goal is to host a camp again this year, with considerations of the Community’s COVID-19 guidelines.
“This run builds Community among everyone involved and it helps to be around one another the entire time as we go on this journey,” said Jackson. She emphasized how powerful it is to be around so many people who believe in the mission, support one another, and build a network of women who may have never met.
While it’s a run, a person’s time, agility, or athletic ability is not a factor in this event. Instead, the coordinators want to create a safe and welcoming event for all ages and abilities.
“When we plan this event, we want to make it accessible and inclusive to everyone because it’s not a race it’s a run filled with purpose and good intentions,” said Pamela Thompson, District 4. Thompson is also a coordinator and co-founder of the run.
Runners can expect to run or walk quarter miles throughout the route. In doing so, the coordinators plan a safe and suitable course for everyone so they can complete their “legs” with minimal stress on themselves.
Keeping this in mind, this year, the coordinators are planning to host a running camp on Sept. 17 (see flyer below). The camp will provide some background about the run and share the expectations of the route before the Nov. run. The camp will also help prepare participants for the terrain and other considerations before the run.
Also new for this year is a route that will return through District 5. In the past few years, the route didn’t go through District 5 entirely, like before, but they’re working to find a path that includes District 5.
The run is a collective journey that draws on one’s physical, mental, and spiritual abilities. However, both Jackson and Thompson encourage everyone to participate if they can.
“We hope everyone can join us, whether you decide to run or watch, it’s such a beautiful thing to witness all of our powerful women run and lay these prayers for our Community,” said Jackson. “Ultimately, what this run is about is unification of our women and offers a space for us to rebuild our relationships with one another as women.”
If you’re interested in participating this year, you can find more information on Facebook by searching “Women’s Prayer Run.” Or you can also contact Renee Jackson at (480) 404-2543 or Pamela Thompson at (480) 721-0939.
