When I Won My Race

I probably should have been more nervous.

As I stood on the National Mall in a large crowd of people ready to run 6.2 miles, I was already enjoying the weight of the finisher’s medal around my neck. I had been preparing for the Marine Corps 10k since I had returned to the Seminary in late August, and I had lost some weight, eaten well, and rested especially well in the days leading up to the Race. I stretched, hydrated, strategized, prayed, and relaxed. I’m ready to crush this race, I thought to myself.

The gun went off. I was soon running at a good pace, bobbing and weaving through the crowd with a couple of other Seminarians, having a grand old time. I was still enjoying myself even as I crossed the bridge into Arlington.

And then mile three hit, and my lungs felt like they couldn’t absorb oxygen fast enough. I hit the proverbial wall. I was done for.

Soon, all my preparation felt inadequate. It took everything I had to maintain pace with the runners around me, but I knew I should be going faster… like a lot faster. All I could do at the moment was plead to God to carry me through and ask him why on this good Earth did I choose running as my exercise of choice?

But I kept going. I refused to look at my inner struggles as an excuse not to do God’s will. But it almost wasn't enough. I was so close to the finish line, I could hear the delighted cheers of the crowd, the energetic announcer, and the bellows and hearty congratulations of the Marines. But going up the last hill, I felt as if my body could not take it anymore. And just when I slowed down, I felt someone pat me on the back. It was one of the faculty members of the Seminary, and he offered me a smile and encouraged me to keep going. In a moment of pure stubbornness, I put my head down and ran as fast as I could across the finish line. As I walked away from the finish line, I checked my official race time and breathed a sigh of relief and joy. I had managed to run 13 seconds faster than my goal time.

But I knew that I didn’t win my race when I crossed the finish line, I won when I chose not to focus inward but instead look towards my end Goal: Doing what God is calling me to do to the best of my ability in the moments granted to us one second at a time from Our Beloved Father.

He certainly provided the rest.