Minister on the move: Reverend trains for marathons

Rev. David Wigger has been at Independence Presbyterian Church for a year and a half and can usually be found in his office, but not until after his morning run.

Wigger runs around Shaker Lake five days a week in preparation for races he will run in the spring and fall. As a youth he played soccer, which involves sprinting up and down the field. His athleticism continued as he played in an adult soccer league until the birth of his first child.

Scenic Shaker Lakes are one of Wigger’s favorite spots to run because he said it grounds him and provides time to give thanks to God when he experiences the beautiful sunrises come up over the lakes.

His advice for those who want to start running is to “start small.” Wigger started with a 5K run to support a fundraiser for UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Following that, he and his wife Amy ran a 10K during the Cleveland Marathon Weekend last October.

Wigger will tackle his first half marathon at the end of April in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. followed by another in May in downtown Cleveland. Following these races, he will continue training for a full marathon in Akron this coming fall.

In the meantime, Wigger is available for coffee and conversation Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at Independence Presbyterian Church on the west side of Public Square in Independence. ∞