200 miles for a good cause

Throughout his life Nate Bailey, of Dodge Center, has ran long distances.

Soon though, Bailey will have his longest race and run of his life, as he gets set to run in a 200-mile race this weekend in Illinois.

Aside from doing something that not many people can say they have done, Bailey will also be helping to raise money for Next Chapter Ministries in Rochester.

Bailey explained he first got the idea when he heard of an opportunity to get a donation of $2,500 for anyone who ran 50 miles. That donation could go to any organization that the runner picked, and it led Bailey to the idea of seeing how much he could raise if he ran 200 miles.

“I said why don’t we try to see how much we can raise with me running 200 miles,” Bailey explained.

Next Chapter Ministries is an organization that helps those who are incarcerated in many ways and also helps those when they get out of jail. The organization also helps the youth, who are affected due to their parents being incarcerated.

“Next Chapter’s mission is to build lasting relationships with people who have been impacted by crime, restoring them to God, family, and community with the Gospel of God.

Although he doesn’t train as much as others do, he explained that he runs every day, usually about two hours at a time,” their mission statement states.

Some of the specific ways that the organization helps is by going to the Olmsted County Detention Center and Juvenile Detention Center, to lead Bible studies, classes, and support groups with the men, women, and youth at these sites.

The organization also helps those who are transitioning to the work release program and also help give encouragement to those in jail or in treatment, by sending letters of encouragement and support.

In the last year, he has ran three 100-mile races, finishing 64 miles the first time, 76 miles in the second race, and in the third race he finished the 100-mile race.

In those first couple of races, Bailey explained it was after a time when he didn’t train as much.

“I was basically coming off the couch in those races,” Bailey explained.

For Bailey, running in very long races is something that he enjoys mainly because he enjoys seeing what his limitations are and pushing them.

“I am always curious about what I am capable of and what I can do,” Bailey said. “You learn a lot about yourself when you put yourself in those situations,” he added.

Bailey is looking forward to raising as much money as possible to help the very important organization.

“It will really help them out,” he said.

With a goal of raising $25,000 for the good cause, they are about half way there, raising about $10,000 between a Go Fund me campaign and through the donation of $2,500.

For those who would like to donate to Next Chapter Ministries can do so by going to Bailey’s Go Fund me page. https://www.gofundme.com/next-chapter-ministries-200-mile-race-fundraiser.