One of my favorite memories is a day that began with a 5K run. I had decided to do this with a few of my friends. Other friends would be cheering us on along the way. As it was my first running event outside of the mandatory runs in high school, I didn't know what to expect, but having run laps at my heath club, I thought it would be simple enough to do.
What I didn't expect was the mass of people who would show up for this event.We were all lined up according to the speed that we said we could do. That meant that my friends and I were about three-quarters of the way back in the line up as we were recreational runners. All we could see was runners before us and behind us. When the shot rang out at the start of the race, we all started moving together as if a single living organism. As I ran I clipped the heel of a runner near me, which did not seem to affect the runner at all as he just moved forward. It was quite a different story for me. It was enough to flip me around and have me falling backward. All I could see was a rolling wave of people heading towards me and getting ready to run over me. Yet in just a few seconds other runners turned me around and aligned me in a running pace without seeming to break their own pace.
As I continued my run, the space got further apart between runners. Complete strangers were happily cheering all the runners on and offering them cups of water. That encouragement was definitely enough to keep me and the other runners going who knew they were far from the early finishers. Once we each finished the race, we each got tickets to pick up our photo finishes. Feeling totally hot and sweaty, I still felt a sense of accomplishment for finishing the race. I still have the race t-shirt I got from completing the event. To me it's like a trophy or a sign of an achievement. It was a day of camaraderie with my old friends and my temporary new friends who had also achieved the pursuit of their goal.
What is the race that you are running? What are you pursuing in life? Are you giving it your all or are you just along for the ride? Run the race and achieve your goal!
For more thoughts on pursuit tap into the other posts this month from the blog chain as noted to the right of this post.
Glad you were able to complete your pursuit Chris. My last race was getting my "pursuit" blog done by Thursday night for publishing Friday morning. Glad you were able to complete that one too.
ReplyDeleteWow. Thanks Chris. I see many parallels to the Christian life in your race story. No wonder Paul used a race as just such an analogy.
ReplyDelete1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
Hebrews 12:1 "let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"
My favorite part is when you nearly fell, and the other runners somehow turned you around and got you going again. That so aptly illustrates the function of the body of Christ. Also, those giving out water remind me of when Jesus spoke about offering a cup of cold water to "one of these little ones."
I really enjoyed your race experience. I'm glad you finished it. My pursuit or goal is to be able to say, with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;" (2 Timothy 4:7)
SandiGrace :)
Fantastic post, Chris. I've never run (or walked) a 5k before; your post gave me some insight on what it's like from the participant's perspective. That feeling of accomplishment is wonderful, regardless of the pursuit. :)
ReplyDeleteMy current pursuit is to finish Brigitte's Battle, Book 2 of The Women of Atherton, before the scheduled release date of March 2013. I have had several readers tell me they don't want to wait that long, which is motivating me to get it out to market sooner.
I too found the fact that you received help in getting going after your stumble was good.
ReplyDeleteglad you finished the run
well done
biiiiiig hug
I too found the fact that others helped you to regain your footing was a good thing
ReplyDeleteyou finished the race too
well done
biiiiiiiig hug
That fall could have been ugly... Good story
ReplyDeleteWow! That could have been a very different outcome had those other runners not taken to helping you. It reminds me of how we should be as Christians - running our own race, but mindful of others around us.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Chris! Running in not one of my fav's for pleasure, I run to get away from danger. I am so proud of your effort and I was reminded that we are all in a race for the prize. Staying faithful in a faithless world can be challenging. Keep up the good work>
ReplyDeleteWow 5 km. That's pretty impressive. Last year, when I was walking/running to work every day I got to a point where I managed to jog 3.9 km to the office, but it absolutely killed me.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter recently got so freaked out about her school 'cross country' that she begged me to not send her to school. She was terrified of coming last. Eventually she came to the realisation that the challenge is to reach the finish line, and not so much about what place you get there. We could remember that in more of our pursuits in life.
I did my first 5K thinking it was going to be a breeze! I was one of the first people in front when the race started. Skipping forward, I came in second to last out of almost 200 people LOL. Enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteLooking at that picture, it's a wonder you didn't get stampeded!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time I did a twenty mile walk. We were supposed to get food and water along the way, but by the time I got to each post, the others ahead of me had hogged it all down.
Great post.
Running in a race is something I can't even imagine! Out of my range of movement! Great post, Christine! Sorry I'm so late. Life has gotten full lately.
ReplyDelete