Marathon: Run One, Run All.....

I have watched marathon competitions on TV many times but recently I have been drawn to the distinguishing features of the race and I have realized we can glean a lot of lessons from the competition. We can’t but relate it to our essence in life. 

The Marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards), which is usually run as a road race¹ . It can also be described as an activity that continues for a long time and needs a lot of energy, patience, or determination ². It is entirely different from the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters or relay race that is being done within the confines of a stadium.Unlike the race that is set within the boundaries of a stadium, a marathon race spans through a town or city and it entails a whole lot more than the regular sprints.  

There are the participants themselves who are the key players, the paramedics to help those who fall ill or are injured. There are volunteers who hand out water and probably energy drinks to the participants during the course of the race and of course there are usually loads of people waiting at the finish line to welcome those who make it there eventually cheering them on with so much fanfare and excitement. Usually, many people start off but not all finish. There definitely would be a winner but truth is that in a marathon, anyone who is able to get to the finished line is a winner. Many people opt out along the way but only the determined will make it to the finish line where they are cheered and celebrated. Praises and rewards are showered on everyone who makes it to the end whether as the first or last person.

It is interesting to know that in a marathon race, most participants do not run to win. More important for most runners is their personal finish time, as some runners just want to finish. When you get tired of running, you can adopt a run–walk strategy ,you can walk but just ensure you keep moving!. A lot of people have personal goals and train hard to validate themselves and prove to others that they can “do” it.  People with all sorts of circumstances enrol in the race with a common goal of finishing.  

Life is no doubt like a marathon where everyone runs his race. You join the race when you come into the world and right from that moment, there are people such as your parents, caregivers, teachers who lead you through the early years and arm you with all you need to go far in life. You get to a stage where you are able to sustain yourself and there would be the high and low moments. Many times you fall but as long as you get up and keep going, you are never disqualified.  We are encumbered with all sorts of issues and distractions but truth is self-determination will take us to the finish line. Let us look at the admonition Paul the apostle gave us in the scriptures, citing the best example ever; that of Jesus the captain of our salvation. He says:

1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls (Hebrews 12: 1-10 Message version).

There are people who have come into this world and have finished their race well. The greatest example as we know is that of  Jesus Himself. He knew His purpose and pursued it, not giving in to whatever forms of distractions that came His way. Not everyone would be popular, not everyone would finish first, in fact there is no reason to analyse how someone fared in comparison with another person. Our strengths and weaknesses differ; after all a unique combination of genes is what makes up every human being. Our talents and gifts are peculiar and God’s expectations concerning us are dependent on what He has put inside of us.Paul, again when he was about to die, told Timothy his protégé-

You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. (2nd Timothy 4:6-7 -8, Message version). It is comforting to know that God is on the side-line encouraging us to do more and in fact at the finishing line, waiting to applaud us.

Amazingly, I have noticed that Kenyans win Marathon competitions a lot as they are usually fast runners. So I have been curious about what could be the contributing factors to their recurrent success. One of the things I came across as a major factor is their diet. Someone who had a close rapport with the Kenyans noticed that their diets tell a huge story about their success.  When they are shopping, their  cart would be filled with things like cabbage, chicken, steaks, cans of tomatoes, tea, white corn meal and whole-wheat flour and they all eat the same ³. They pay a lot of attention to what they consume as this would ultimately affect what they are able to offer. Another fact I gathered is that three-quarters of the Kenyan runners lived at least several miles from school when they were kids, and were much more likely to run to and from school, learning the value of distance running from an early age. So what they go through growing up prepares them for the future and hence they outshine others in most of the race. When you train more, you fare better,

Our "diet" is key in running the race of life effectively; not necessarily food in the physical only but what we feed our soul and spirit with. Our association in life would determine how effective we are in the race. Some relationships are just unnecessary weight and that’s why we are admonished in the scripture earlier quoted to drop any weight that may slow us down. It’s high time we stopped giving excuses of the peculiarity of our challenges and why we cannot effectively make the best of life. We have found ourselves in this race, come what may, we just have to run it well. It's wisdom  to know that in reality,we do not have another chance.

Would you dare yourself today? You can do much better! Just Focus on the finish line which can only be determined by God who has created you and who only can reward you accordingly. Help those who stumble on the race; be kind to all, because you will get help when you stumble too.

One God, One Life, One Race, One Purpose, One Chance, One Soul, One Body, One You. Aim for nothing but the best!

The Pen……

1.   Wikipedia

2.    Longman dictionary online’s definition of dictionary

3.    http://news.menshealth.com