IRVINE, CA --- Nearly seven years after he sat in head coach Martin Gonzalez's office and spoke of his plans to be a top-flight marathon runner, Marco Venancio is gearing up for the 2009 Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon Oct. 4.

And, as the race approaches, the 2007 Concordia graduate's likeness appears on the
Bank of America Chicago Marathon's official website banner, promoting the Oct. 11 26-mile run.

Venancio, who still holds three school records that include a marathon mark of 2:21:57.34, still remembers vividly Dec. 6, 2002, a day when he found in Gonzalez the first person who believed in him.

Growing up in a tough family situation that moved him from Mexico City to Veracruz (Mexico), and finally to San Diego, Venancio would come to discover much more than a coach who believed in him.

Through his four years of running for Gonzalez, he discovered both a satisfying relationship with God in Christ, and a lasting avenue through which he could live out his faith.

"Before I came to Concordia, the importance of running was along the same lines to me as God Himself," Venancio said. "Now, running is a connection that I have with God. It is a channel through which I can let the world know that God has saved me."

Venancio's love of running has continued on, resulting in a 11th-place finish of 2:20:29 in last year's Chicago Marathon, but as he describes it, he never would have had the extra push to pursue greatness without Gonzalez's constant encouragement and challenges to never settle.

"Coach never allowed me to stay in my comfort zone," Venancio, who is sponsored by Adidas Movin Shoes in San Diego, said. "My favorite quote when I would come to Coach with an issue was, 'Well Marco, make it happen.' And more often than not, I did. Coach never allowed me to be mediocre; he wanted me to be the best that I could possibly be, and I was."

A four-time NAIA All-American in cross country and track, Venancio's junior and senior years were marked by a pair of NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections, as his excellence in the classroom contributed to Concordia's 2005 men's track and field NAIA Scholar-Team selection.

Venancio also represented his teams as an NAIA Champion of Character, and received various team-sponsored inspiration awards as an emerging team leader whose life began to take a different focus as he approached graduation.

"During Marco's time as an Eagle, I watched him try to balance what I expect from each of my student-athletes: Growth in faith, academics, athletics and service," Gonzalez, who is embarking on his 10th year at Concordia, said.

"After prioritizing athletics above all else in his first two years, Marco had a complete transformation in priorities over the next two years. He placed his faith as his No. 1 concern, and every area of his life was affected. He became a servant-leader on the team and set a great example of doing God's work."

Venancio's outlook on life and running runs parallel to that of Scottish missionary to China Eric Liddell, whose words were immortalized in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire with the quotation, "I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."

In October, Venancio will be sure to put his 2009 appearance in San Jose to good use, the main skill he learned as a Concordia athlete.

"I know that running is my lifestyle, I will always do it," Venancio said. "Right now, I feel like God is preparing me for something big, something that started at Concordia with Coach Gonzalez. Whatever happens, I want to give all the glory to God."