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"Chafe Now. Brag Forever."

Charles Wiley

“You all look Kenyans to me!”, “Run like you stole something!”, “Think about the best beer in the world at the end!”, “You’ve got great stamina.  Call me...”

 These are just a small sample of memorable homemade signs I saw held by spectators as I ran the New York City marathon on November 7, 2010.  This was not only my first marathon but my first running race -- I haven’t even run a 5K before this.  I am only a casual runner and trained sporadically for few months before the race but I was woefully underprepared.  The longest I ran before the marathon was a 14 miles (marathon is 26.2 miles).  I finished the race in a humbling five and a half hours (compare this to Oprah who ran the Marine Corps marathon in less than 4.5 hrs. back in 1994 or Jared the Subway guy who ran the same race as me in 5hr. 13 min.).

     Looking back there were three things that were crucial to my finishing the race. 

 1.   Other people running in the same direction, to the same destination.

      It was amazing to be running with tens of thousands of people all running in the same direction.  Yes, many people who were more overweight than me and older than me were whizzing past me but I was literally enveloped by people all moving in the same direction.  At one point I could see miles and miles of road covered with shimmering sea of runners. This was a source of inspiration that helped me when the going got tough and tiredness set in.

2.   Encouragement from spectators.

     At about the 12 mile mark I felt a sharp pain in my left hip and I could not run and barely walk.  Convinced that I might have to quit I limped to the curb and started stretching when a spectator came over and talked to me. He said, “Hey, how you doing? Your first marathon?” He could tell.  “I ran it last year and it was amazing.  I thought I wasn’t finishing but the crowds kept me going.  Hey, you can do it.  Just let the crowds carry you.”  I thanked him and with that short conversation I started up again, with slower, shorter pace.  His name was John and I don’t know if I could have finished the course without his encouragement.  Also, the funny signs really helped.  When we entered Central Park and my legs felt like lead, a screaming spectator with the sign, “Don’t even think about it!  You don’t have a [@##$$%!] choice but to finish!” helped me get through the last few miles.

 3.   The anticipation of crossing the finish line.

     I walked sporadically for at least an hour throughout the race.  I didn’t hit a wall but series of walls.  But the thought of seeing my family at the end of the race kept me going. 

     Well, a lot has been said comparing the Christian life with running a race, how it is more like a marathon than a sprint.  The key verse comes from Hebrews 12:1:

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…"

    After the marathon I appreciated more Paul’s imagery of running with perseverance and the importance of the cloud of witnesses running in the same direction.  What sports or hobbies/activities help you in understanding the Christian life and have helped you on your journey?  What stories do you have when encouragement from others helped you keep the faith?

• Posted at 9:14 p.m.
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