At mile 30, his quad muscles began to stiffen with exhaustion and pain, but his reason for running was greater than the pain. At mile 40, his knees began to ache, but he ignored the ache. At mile 44, his ankles were in agony and finishing seemed impossible. In fact, it WAS impossible, until this runner reached out to his Higher Source of strength, love and purpose. He cried out to his God and was given the strength to complete his race. After running 12 hours straight, Benjamin Pensyl met his personal goal of running 50 miles without stopping at the Dizzy Horse Backyard Ultra last December.

Friends and fellow racers heartily congratulated him, certain that it must have been incredibly satisfying to accomplish such a feat, but satisfaction was not the cherished sensation that Benjamin experienced with this victory. In that moment, Benjamin basked in God’s love, filled with a certainty that he was “immensely valued and loved by the Creator. I want other people to experience the love that I felt.”

Visiting Benjamin, I was touched by his humility in the face of such astounding accomplishment. He knows that because the race was important to him, it was important to God, and he wants the world to join him in glorifying the Being who makes all things possible to those who believe.

Born in Russia and adopted by Dave and Deborah Pensyl, Benjamin was raised in Arizona. After completing degrees at Grand Canyon University where Benjamin also played collegiate rugby, he and his wife, Audrey, spent a few years in the Denver area. Two years ago, they moved to Thayne to be near her family. The Pensyl’s have two daughters, ages two years and 6 months, and Benjamin drives residential trash collection routes throughout the Valley for Star Valley Disposal and Royal Flush Septic.

Until six months ago, Benjamin’s interests outside family and work included philosophical studies and pickleball.  He wasn’t a runner until about six months ago when he realized that his five-foot, eight-inch frame was carrying too much weight at 220 pounds. Determining to improve his health and get in shape, he dove into running.

Benjamin hopes to teach his girls that “they can do hard things,” and he hopes to support folks who are unable to run by running in their honor.  His tri-suit carries the message, “Not everyone gets a choice,” and features the image of a ribbon honoring cancer patients and survivors.  He drives focus to God with two scripture references on the sides. Isaiah 43:2 and Jeremiah 29:11 remind him that God will sustain him and those he runs to honor.

“God has done incredible things in me and through me,” Benjamin said in a voice thick with emotion. “I feel undeniably that He loves me, and He cares about me.” Running a 50-mile race is not really anything significant in God’s eyes, but “I have found purpose, meaning and excitement in running.” Achieving his goals is about giving his best for God. “When you’re conditioning and your coach says, ‘Give me 100 percent. Give me your best,’ the only person who knows you if you cheated is you.”

In the Dizzy Horse, Benjamin also carried an American flag as a tribute to men and women in uniform. “I wanted to show my support for our troops and the ones who defend our country during this time of confusion. I’m so proud to be an American! What better way to show support for people who give so much purely of themselves? This is my way of supporting them and saying, ‘Thank you.’”

Benjamin runs to bring focus to friends and loved ones who can’t run for themselves, to honor individuals who can’t run because of physical restrictions or illness. His boss, Guy Jacobson, has been through a double lung transplant. His dear friend, Jesse, has struggled with kidney disease.

His Aunt Melissa has gone two rounds with cancer. Among many others, these are the people he runs for. These are the people he celebrates. “I’m super honored and privileged to do these things and I see it as a gift, because not everyone has that choice. People get put in situations where life dealt them a difficult circumstance. They didn’t choose to be there.”

In the last six months, Benjamin has completed five distance races at events in Jackson, Utah, Idaho, California and Arizona.  While running, he strives to inspire fellow runners and support them in reaching their goals. He runs with and encourages folks who are on their last legs, just as he was. He tells them he believes in them and shares encouraging words.

At the Dizzy Horse, he ran beside a gentleman who didn’t appear to be a seasoned runner. He wasn’t in great shape but had the goal to run 26 miles. At mile 26, this man said, “I’m going to do one more,” and finished another mile. Then, he determined that he would, again, run one more. He did this over and over, running beside Banjamin, who was encouraging him with his example and his words. Incredibly, the two runners both completed 50 miles. Benjamin was there to cheer for this man who had pushed himself beyond expectation, and had proven to himself that he could do impossible things with the right support.

In view of his grueling work and unbelievable accomplishment, Benjamin asks, “What else can you do to help, that you’re scared to try? Don’t limit yourself. Don’t allow the world to tell you that you can’t do something. Try it. If you fail, get up and dust yourself off and try again. If you have a desire and a passion, pursue it. Don’t let fear or the possibility that you might not be able to do something limit you. Pursue truth and knowledge. All truth and knowledge come from God, so pursue Him and then love your neighbor as yourself. If you do that, the world will be a better place. That’s the message I want to pass on to my girls and I think it’s a message that the world should hear.”