Running His Race Podcast with Christian Run Coach, Elizabeth

How do you find joy when life doesn't go as planned? In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian run coach Elizabeth talks with Heather Carpenter about faith and running, health struggles, identity in Christ, and choosing gratitude in difficult seasons.

After years of feeling unheard by doctors, Heather found running, and it became a lifeline. When her health eventually led her to leave her career and step away from running, she began intentionally looking for joy each day. That practice grew into the Joy Journal, a 52-week faith-based gratitude journal that helps readers recognize God's goodness and faithfulness.

This conversation is a reminder for Christian runners that joy doesn't depend on our circumstances, and our identity isn't found in running, careers, or accomplishments. It's rooted in Christ.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to find joy and gratitude in hard seasons
• How health challenges changed Heather's relationship with running
• How God brings new purpose out of pain
• The story behind the Joy Journal
• How to surrender your plans and trust God's direction

Who Is This Episode For?

• Christian runners facing injury, illness, or a change in their running
• Runners wrestling with identity
• Anyone in a difficult season who needs hope and encouragement
• Anyone who loves Jesus

**GIVEAWAY: The first 3 People to post this episode on Instagram Stories and tag @Endurance4You and @JoyfilledHeather will WIN 2 Joy Journals! One to keep and one to share!**

Weekly Challenge: Each day this week, write down three things you're grateful for and thank God for His faithfulness, even in the hard season.

Connect with Heather Carpenter:

• Instagram: @joyfilledheather
• Original Joy Journal by Heather Carpenter
• Joy Journal - Faith Edition
• Kid's Joy Journal - Ages 6-12

Resource Links Referenced in this Episode:

• Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
• Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times by John Eldredge
• Vision with Purpose and Power: A 90-Day Devotional by Myles Munroe
• Breakdown Official Lyric Video by Andrew Ripp

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

Is running drawing you closer to Jesus or slowly pulling your heart in another direction?

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian Run Coach Elizabeth invites you to take an honest look at the role running plays in your life and your faith.

Running can be a gift, a place to pray, worship, process, find joy, and care for the body God has given you. But even good things can take up too much space in our hearts. Our training, goals, race times, mileage, or accomplishments can become more important to us than they were ever meant to be.

Drawing from Hebrews 12:1–2, Elizabeth encourages Christian runners to fix their eyes on Jesus and examine what is shaping their hearts. Is running helping you grow in your relationship with Christ, or has it become something you're looking to for identity, worth, fulfillment, or validation?

This episode isn't about giving up running or caring about your goals. It's about making sure Jesus remains at the center.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to recognize whether running is drawing you closer to Jesus or pulling you away from Him.

• Practical ways to use your runs as opportunities for prayer, gratitude, worship, and connection with God

• Why keeping your eyes on Jesus matters both on the road and in the rest of life

Who Is This Episode For?

• Christian runners who want their running to honor God
• Runners who struggle with performance, comparison, or finding their identity in running
• Athletes who want to grow spiritually while pursuing their running goals

• Anyone who loves Jesus

Weekly Challenge: Take some time this week to honestly ask yourself: “Is running drawing me closer to Jesus or away from Him?”

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

What if something that is good in your life slowly becomes something that takes God’s place?

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian Run Coach Elizabeth gets real about a quote that challenged her own heart.

During a Bible study, Elizabeth encountered a powerful quote, "When you worship anuthing other than God, Satan will accept that as worship to himself," by Jonathan Pokluda.

That revelation caused her to look back at her own relationship with running when it was an idol in her life.

Running wasn't bad. Wanting to improve wasn't bad. Wanting to qualify for Boston wasn't bad. Having goals wasn't bad.

But a good thing had started competing for the throne of her heart.

Elizabeth shares what she learned about recognizing idols, how our passions and goals can quietly become objects of worship, and why our identity can never be found in a race time, pace, achievement, or performance.

This conversation isn't just for runners. It's for anyone who loves Jesus and wants to examine what may be competing for God's place in their heart.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• What an idol is and how something good can become an idol
• How running, racing, performance, and achievement can compete for our worship
• Signs that something may be taking God's place in your life

Who Is This Episode For?

• Christian runners navigating performance, goals, and faith
• Runners who struggle with tying their identity to pace, mileage, or race results
• Anyone who wants to identify and confront idols in their life
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Weekly Challenge: Ask yourself this question: What is currently fighting for the throne in your life right now?

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian run coach Elizabeth sits down with Brandy, a wife, mother of four, and runner, for a raw and honest conversation about what it really means to suffer well as a Christian.

Brandy shares her powerful testimony of a decade-long health journey filled with uncertainty, hospitalizations, and eventually a life-changing diagnosis. She shares her story about how she became a runner after her diagnosis and how a half marathon has now led to training for her first marathon, even with chronic illness.

If you've ever wondered how to trust God through suffering, find hope in chronic illness (or cancer), or use running as a form of worship and prayer, this episode will speak straight to your heart.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• How to navigate suffering with faith and purpose
• The importance of trusting God with the process rather than the outcome
• What it means to suffer well

Who is this episode for:

• Christian runners facing chronic illness, cancer, or a hard diagnosis

• Christian runners seeking to deepen their faith through running
• Those looking for encouragement and inspiration in their own journeys
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Weekly Challenge: Think of one hard season in your life. Write down one way God used it to grow your faith or shape who you are today. Ask Him to help you see your current struggles the same way.

Connect with Brandy

• Instagram: @brandy.jo_
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@Endurance4You⁠
• Facebook: ⁠Endurance4You Page⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠Newsletter⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian Run Coach Elizabeth kicks off Season 3 by challenging the idea that running, and our walk with the Lord, are NOT meant to be done alone.

As Christian runners, it's easy to fall into the mindset that running is a solo sport: just you, the road, and your watch. But Coach Elizabeth shares her own journey with imposter syndrome and life transitions to show why community, accountability, and prayer matter just as much as your training plan.

Whether you're new to running, chasing a big race goal, or simply seeking to grow closer to Jesus, this episode will encourage you to stop running (and walking with God) in isolation, and instead lean into the gift of community He has placed around you.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why running isn't a solo sport, and how that truth parallels our Christian walk
• The role community, accountability, and prayer play in both running and faith
• How to work through feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome through connection and prayer

Who is this episode for:

• Christian runners seeking encouragement and community
• Anyone feeling isolated in their faith journey
• Runners looking for motivation to reach out and connect with others
• Anyone who loves Jesus and wants to grow closer to Him through running

Weekly Challenge: Identify someone who has supported you in your running or faith journey. Reach out to them this week with a message of gratitude and encouragement.

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - Christian Run Coaching Services
• Instagram: @Endurance4You
• Facebook: Endurance4You Page
• Subscribe to her Newsletter

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian Run Coach Elizabeth concludes the Spiritual Run Gear series by exploring the Sword of the Spirit, the only offensive weapon in the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:17), and how Christian runners can use God’s Word to fight fear, doubt, and discouragement.

As Christian runners, we spend a lot of time learning how to defend ourselves against fear, doubt, discouragement, and comparison. But God didn't just give us armor for protection - He gave us a weapon. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, equips us to fight back against the enemy's lies with truth.

Whether you're training for your first race, chasing a marathon PR, or simply seeking to grow closer to Jesus, this episode will encourage you to carry God's Word with you every step of the journey.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the Armor of God
• How Jesus used Scripture to defeat temptation and overcome the enemy's attacks
• How to create Scripture-based running mantras for training and racing

Who is this episode for:

• Christian runners who want to grow in both faith and running
• Athletes battling fear, doubt, anxiety, or discouragement
• Runners looking for biblical motivation during training and racing
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Weekly Challenge: Before your next run, choose one Bible verse that speaks to your current season. Memorize it, pray through it, and repeat it throughout your run whenever fear, fatigue, or doubt begin to creep in. Let God's Word become your Sword of the Spirit and your strongest running mantra.

To learn how to use Scripture for your running mantras, listen to this episode: Christian Running Mindset: How to Create Biblical Race Mantras That Point You to Jesus

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of the Running His Race Podcast, Christian Run Coach Elizabeth continues the Spiritual Run Gear series by exploring the Helmet of Salvation, one of the six pieces of the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:17.

Have you ever noticed how quickly fear, doubt, negative self-talk, or discouragement can creep into your mind during training, racing, or even the race of life? The enemy often attacks our thoughts first, making the Helmet of Salvation essential spiritual protection for every Christian runner.

Join Coach Elizabeth as she explains how understanding your salvation and your identity in Christ helps guard your mind against lies, shame, fear, and condemnation.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why the Helmet of Salvation is essential in spiritual warfare
• How to recognize and combat the enemy's lies
• Why your identity in Christ changes the way you train and race

Who is this episode for:

• Christian runners wanting to grow in both faith and running
• Athletes struggling with fear, doubt, anxiety, or negative self-talk
• Christians studying the Armor of God
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Challenge: Before you lace up your running shoes each day, take a moment to intentionally put on the Helmet of Salvation. Thank God for your salvation, remind yourself who you are in Christ, and choose one Bible verse to meditate on throughout your run and your day.

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of Running His Race Podcast, Coach Elizabeth breaks down one of the most powerful pieces of the Armor of God, the Shield of Faith from Ephesians 6:16.

As Christian runners and endurance athletes, we don’t just face physical challenges in training. We also face mental and spiritual battles—doubt, fear, comparison, discouragement, and the lies of the enemy that try to slow us down or stop us altogether.

This episode explores how the Shield of Faith is not passive belief, but an active, living trust in God’s character, His Word, and His promises, even when your circumstances don’t make sense.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What the Shield of Faith means in Ephesians 6:16
• How to recognize and extinguish the enemy’s “flaming arrows” of doubt, fear, and discouragement
• How to replace lies with the truth of God’s Word

Who is this episode for:

• Christian runners wanting faith-based running motivation
• Endurance athletes battling fear, doubt, or mental fatigue
• Runners seeking to integrate Jesus into their training and identity
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Challenge: Take time to identify the “flaming arrows” you’ve been facing lately, thoughts, fears, or discouragement that show up during training or life.

Then choose one Bible verse that will serve as your Shield of Faith. Write it down, speak it over yourself, and bring it with you on your next run as a reminder of God’s truth and protection.

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of Running His Race Podcast, Coach Elizabeth continues the spiritual running gear series by focusing on the essential piece: The Shoes of Peace.

Have you ever considered how the right footwear can impact your running and your spiritual journey?

Join Elizabeth as she explores the significance of the Shoes of Peace, drawing parallels between proper running shoes and spiritual readiness. She emphasizes the importance of being grounded in the Gospel of Peace, which empowers us to face life's challenges with confidence and strength.

Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, Elizabeth encourages listeners to reflect on their spiritual footing and how it aligns with their daily lives. As you lace up for your next run, think about how the Shoes of Peace can guide your steps and help you navigate the terrain of life.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The importance of a gait analysis for finding the right running shoes
• How spiritual footing affects our overall life and running performance
• The role of the community in identifying and addressing weaknesses
• Practical ways to incorporate the Gospel of Peace into your daily routine

Who This Episode Is For:

• Runners seeking to deepen their faith while training
• Anyone wanting to understand the connection between running and spiritual growth
• Christian Runners who want to center their running on God
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Challenge: Take some time to go through the Spiritual Gait analysis that Elizabeth walks you through, with questions at the end of this episode.

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run

In this episode of Running His Race Podcast, Coach Elizabeth takes us on a transformative journey through the second piece of the Armor of God: the Breastplate of Righteousness.

Have you ever considered the dual nature of righteousness and how it plays a crucial role in your spiritual and running life?

Join Elizabeth as she unpacks the significance of the Breastplate of Righteousness, highlighting its protective function for our hearts and how it mirrors our commitment to living a righteous life through Christ.

She emphasizes the importance of both imputed righteousness, received through faith, and practical righteousness, cultivated through sanctification.

As you prepare for your next run, think about how the Breastplate of Righteousness protects your heart and guides your steps, just like your fitness tracker keeps you aligned with your running goals.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The meaning of righteousness and its twofold nature
• How the Breastplate of Righteousness guards our hearts against the enemy's attacks
• The parallels between running gear and spiritual armor
• Practical ways to incorporate righteousness into your daily life

Who This Episode Is For:

• Runners seeking to deepen their faith while training
• Christian runners wanting to understand the connection between righteousness and running
• Anyone who loves Jesus

Connect with Coach Elizabeth:

• Work with Coach Elizabeth - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Run Coaching Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Endurance4You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Endurance4You Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Subscribe to her ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm: Music On the Run