First ‘Days of Elijah’ run sparks early interest Published Jan. 23, 2015 By John Parker Staff Writer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Next week's spiritual fitness resiliency run promises to be like no other -- and not just because of the free T-shirts. The Tinker Chaplain Corps and Health Promotions are sponsoring the 5K fun run and 2K walk under the theme "Days of Elijah." Chaplain (Maj.) Ralph T. Elliott Jr. said the corps is highlighting the Old Testament prophet for his feat of spiritual and physical resilience: outrunning a king's chariot. The story in 1 Kings chronicles several incidents involving Elijah and Ahab, an ancient king of Israel. Elijah wasn't in Ahab's good graces after he condemned him for following a false god. At one point, Elijah prays to God for rain to relieve a long drought. His prayers are answered. Storm clouds gather. Traveling with Ahab, Elijah tells the king and his entourage to ride their chariots quickly back to their city of Jezreel to avoid a muddy quagmire. "When it began to rain, Elijah was about 14 miles from home (Jezreel)," Chaplain Elliott said. "The Lord empowered Elijah to run and arrive before Ahab. He outran the horse-drawn chariots. "That's what we're trying to do, bring back the days of Elijah, where people are putting their trust and faith in spiritual wellness and having it translate into physical well-being. Because Elijah was spiritually fit, it directly impacted his physical fitness, because the Lord gave him that supernatural power to run that great distance at great speed." The free event will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Runners and walkers are encouraged to arrive early. The first 350 participants will get free "Days of Elijah" T-shirts and the first 50 finishers will earn a coin. Refreshments, including hot chocolate, will be available at the start and finish. Exercisers can warm up inside the chapel's fellowship hall before and after the race, where fruit, water and other snacks will be available. Interest in the run/walk so far has been high, with more than 100 sign-ups only a few days after the announcement, said Chaplain (Maj.) Sam Tucker. The course will also feature volunteers from the chapel's Catholic and Protestant congregations carrying motivational signs that tell part of their personal stories. A military retiree will hold a sign encouraging people to ask him how he and his wife pulled off the extraordinary feat of 56 years of marriage -- and going, Chaplain Elliott said. Chaplain Tucker said participants can chat with military retirees who are congregants, including two former wing commanders. "They've been through so much more than most of us will ever imagine," Chaplain Tucker said. "They are World War II and Vietnam vets, career Army, Air Force and Navy people. They literally have been there and done that." Chaplain Tucker said he hopes the exercise will be invigorating and send a message of hope for those who need it. "We want them to feel energized and rejuvenated, and know that there are people who care about them and love them and that we're here for them," Chaplain Tucker said. Chaplain Elliott said the unique event has already received attention beyond Tinker. After learning about the event, Air Force Materiel Command Chaplain (Col.) Jimmy Browning encouraged other bases within the MAJCOM to partner with other base agencies and consider events along the lines of "Days of Elijah." "That was encouraging for us as a staff," Chaplain Elliott said. "If the command chaplain is using us as an example, that's a benchmark on how to keep our wings engaged in spiritual fitness."