Well, I did it. I finally did it. Two weeks before it happened, I wasn’t sure if it would be possible. But on February 28, I accomplished my goal. I ran my first (and perhaps my last) half marathon.
One year ago as COVID-19 shut the world down, I began my quest. To date, 65 of my speaking engagements have been cancelled due to the pandemic. In March of 2020, I suddenly had time on my hands. I was home every day, much of that in quarantine. So, I decided to better myself. I started running around my neighborhood. In the beginning, I couldn’t run a 5K without walking (and gasping) up every hill and slowing down to catch my breath at every turn. Eventually, I ran the entire 5K. Then, last July 4th, I hit 10K. On February 28th, I ran my first half marathon. To be honest, I was intimidated. Very intimidated. But as I ran, I had time to think. I want to share some of those thoughts.
1. Marathons bring out the best in people.
I’m quite new to the world of running, but I have noticed something about runners. They generally seem to be kind to one another. During my race, I heard an interesting exchange. A middle-aged Caucasian woman was running behind me. A young African American man was coming up fast behind her. She stepped to the left to let him pass, just as he also stepped to the left to pass her. He had to hit the brakes to avoid a collision. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” the woman exclaimed. “No problem,” he responded. “We’re all going the same way.” And off he went. On common journeys, everyone is doing their best to get to the destination. Knowing how hard the journey can be, no one throws stones at fellow travelers. Of course, life is the same way. Everyone is on the same path, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. How wonderful it would be if people were as gracious toward others in life as they are during a half marathon!
2. Companions make the race worth running.
My son Daniel regularly encourages my wife and me to run. He is the one who urged me to register for the half marathon. He decided to run alongside me the entire way to ensure I made it (and so he could call 911 if needed). We didn’t talk. I had to conserve every breath. But I knew he was there, silently matching me step for step. I knew he could run the race much faster than I could, but he condescended to run at my pace so he could encourage me each step of the way. A supportive presence is a powerful thing.
It reminded me that what makes life worth living is the people you have beside you for the journey. I’m not sure how many races I’d enter if I ran alone. A lot of the fun is driving to the race with family and friends, running together, celebrating together, and making memories together. Life—and work—is better when you’re enjoying the company of others.
3. Travel light.
On race day in Atlanta, the early morning temperature was cool. But it soon rose into the high seventies. I decided that I was going to travel as light as possible. I normally carry my cell phone in my hand to track my pace and distance. But I purchased a Garmin watch (aff. link) that plays music, tracks my distance and speed, and warns me when my heart rate was redlining. It was much lighter than my cell phone, and it allowed me to keep my hands free (lest there be free donuts on tables along the way . . .). I decided not to bring a water bottle with me, since there would be some provided, and I didn’t want to lug the extra weight for 13.1 miles. I also decided to wear short sleeves and shorts, even though the morning was quite cool.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long before I was glad I had not brought anything to weigh me down. I saw people forced to tie sweaters and jackets around their waists, because it became too hot to wear them. I noticed some people hauling all manner of paraphernalia along with them, because they had assumed they would need it. I even saw one person dressed up in a complete clown outfit. Needless to say, he wasn’t still running after a few miles. It became clear that people don’t require much when they are running a race. The less the better.
I was recently at an estate sale. The owners of the home had moved into a retirement community and needed to get rid of a household filled with items they didn’t have the space to keep. This couple was not particularly materialistic or extravagant. But they had done what most people do and collected memorabilia, nice furniture, and household items over the years. Now they and their children had to sell most of it for a fraction of its value. That experience made me realize that we spend the bulk of our lives collecting things we don’t really need and then spend the last portion of our lives trying to get rid of it all. My half marathon reminded me of the wisdom of traveling light.
4. Embrace encouragement.
Something else I came to appreciate during my run was the volunteer cheerleaders. As I ran the 13.1-mile course, I saw people sitting along the roadside or standing on overpasses. Some of them held signs or rang cowbells and cheered as runners passed by. One sign read, “Smile: Remember, you PAID to do this!” It reminded me of those special people God places in our lives periodically who have the gift of encouragement. What a difference they make! It also made me want to be a better encourager to those I see persevering in the journey God has placed before them.
5. Laugh when you can.
Running a half marathon can get pretty intense. After running 10 miles, we had to go up a steep incline to get onto the Atlanta Speedway and the 1.5-mile racetrack. By that time the sun was at its hottest, and the racetrack seemed to go on forever! My knee was getting sore, my heart rate was elevated, and I just wanted to find the medical tent and drink a cold Gatorade. That was the first time I spoke to my running partner all day. I cracked a joke. I realized I needed to laugh or I might start crying!
Funny story. My wife, Lisa, was running behind us. When she made it onto the racetrack, she got turned around and began following the wrong set of pylons. After only one lap, she was heading toward the finish line. At the last second, she realized her mistake and had to retrace her steps 100 yards to get back onto the track and run another 1.5 miles. Ugh! When we made it home afterward, Lisa got on the Internet and ordered me a 13.1 bumper sticker to put on the back of our car. For herself, she ordered one that reads, “13.7. I got lost!”
God created humor for a reason. I think its purpose was to help humans cope with the challenges we face along the way. Humor gives us hope and assures us that life is worth living, even when it’s hard. When my parents were doing mission work in Canada, they made a commitment not to go to bed until they had laughed at least once that day. That practice may well have done more to preserve their health than the daily dose of cod liver oil my mom made us kids take!
6. Pace yourself. Finish well.
During the race, some people would run past me like I was standing still. But before long I’d pass them while they were walking. Later, they’d resume running with gusto and pass me once again. But then they’d slow to a walk, and I’d pass them. Eventually, I never saw them again. They had brief bursts of energy, but they couldn’t sustain their pace. Pacing has always been my problem with running. I tend to run too fast. I start out well but eventually run out of steam with several miles still to go. I am constantly having to make myself run more slowly so I can finish well.
Those burnt-out runners reminded me of some of the meteoric rises of some of my contemporaries. They hit the ground running. The media exuberantly reported on their unprecedented successes. Everyone was envious of their golden touch. But then things went south. They experienced moral failure, or burnout, or a conflict with their board. Suddenly, a rising star came crashing down and was not heard from again. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Better to pace yourself at a speed that gets the best long-term results.
Conclusion
There are many analogies for life. Running a race is one of the best. In races, how you start is important, but how you finish is crucial. Too many enter the race of life without forethought. They suddenly find themselves on the racetrack unprepared, laden down with excessive baggage, and psychologically ill-equipped for the impending challenges. Thankfully, God is gracious. He allows us moments of reflection when we can make adjustments, lighten our load, change our perspective, steady our pace, and ultimately cross the finish line. I pray this blog post finds you running well.
