Marathon runners are all too familiar with the phrase “hitting the wall.” It’s the point when the body has had enough and wants to quit.

Brittany Donald, a 24-year-old graduate student preparing for her first marathon, recently hit the wall during her training.

She was at the beach on vacation, but her training schedule called for a 12-mile run.

“I wasn't happy about it to say the least,” she wrote in her blog. “Who in the world wants to get up early … and run for over two hours on their vacation? … My attitude was poor, I slept 20 minutes longer than I originally intended, and I was really close to intentionally over-sleeping and missing the run entirely.”

Her internal struggle was won when she remembered why she is training for the 26.2-mile race. Donald is running on behalf of Samaritan's Purse HIV/AIDS projects.

“It's about raising money so an organization can change the lives of those with AIDS/HIV,” she wrote. “It's about raising awareness in my immediate circle of family and friends so that they can be changed and as a result they will hopefully be inspired to bring about change in their immediate circles and to our world. And it's about raising awareness in my own life so that I can change my self-centered, middle-class, consumerist attitude.”

Donald is a member of Team Samaritan's Purse, a network of people who love the Lord and run, cycle, swim, or walk to help a world in need. They use events such as marathons and triathlons to raise funds for Samaritan's Purse programs they care deeply about.

Donald, who is running the City of Oaks marathon in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 1, knew she wanted to do something to help those living with HIV/AIDS when she saw the effects of the disease firsthand during a trip Mombasa, Kenya.

“There was a lady in the community who passed away as a result of HIV when we were there,” she said. “(It was) heartbreaking.”

Donald is pursing a master's degree in intercultural studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. She also works and is involved in church activities. She knew she couldn’t quit her job or school. But she could run.

“While I'm still in school, I am limited in how involved I can be, yet I am not comfortable with doing absolutely nothing,” she wrote on her fundraising page. “I enjoy running, so as a result I figured I would push myself and do something challenging and try to raise money for a greater cause while doing so.”

Two months before she runs the City of Oaks marathon, Donald exceeded her goal of $1,000.

As she continues to train, Donald blogs and tweets about her experiences, often reminding herself of the ultimate aim of the race.

“I have hope that as I run for change, I will be changed throughout the process,” she said.

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Follow Brittany as she blogs her way to the race

Ready, Ready, Ready, Ready, Ready to Run
This past weekend I did something a little absurd, I decided to sign myself up for a marathon. Right now, my sanity is probably being questioned by many of you and I am questioning it as well, so you're in good company. Read more >

Confessions from Wall #1
So this whole running thing is still on and I'm still pumped about it. But I have to confess; it is only getting more difficult. I'm thrilled to be running for Samaritan's Purse, but the reality of 26.2 miles is slowly setting in. Beforehand, I was able to fit running around my current life schedule, but now I'm adjusting my life around my running schedule. Sacrifice is no longer just an ideal, but now it is a reality. And thus, I hit my first wall. Read more >

I Can't Go It Alone
I'm less than 3 weeks away from the marathon, gasp! eek! I have a lot of emotions in regards to the race, but overall I'm just excited to be able to raise some $$ for Samaritan's Purse. I've been amazed at the lessons I've been learning through running these past few weeks. Now I don't want to get over-spiritual on you and spiritualize running, but you must know that these past few weeks have been not only a physical journey but a spiritual one. Read more >

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