2011 National Championship Meet
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize,” 1 Corinthians 9:24. The apostle Paul is referring to the Corinthian Games when he writes this biblical truth, a first century pre-Olympics competition. This passage applies to modern day cross country, a sport which consists of 7 runners, where the top 5 places count with runners 6 and 7 serving as blockers. Like golf, the team with the lowest score wins.
When my 2 boys, James and Daniel, seen in the caption above, competed in the Yes Athletics National Championship Meet the past 3 years, they didn’t expect to win. Rather, they were seeking to reach obtainable goals like running their PR, personal best or finish in the top 100 in the nation. Unlike most sports where there are obvious winners and losers, cross country runners are racing against the clock. The apostle Paul suggests that runners who compete in a race should make sure they run an honorable race with perseverance, fixing their eyes straight ahead, gazing at the cross, Hebrews 12:1-2.
Personally, I have experienced cross country on 3 levels. The first as a runner in high school. Beside the freshmen hazing, being thrown into the Brandywine River, it was best atmosphere I have ever been a part of as an athlete. From the conversations during practice, to team dinners prior to Saturday invitationals and the overall camaraderie, there is nothing like cross country. Where else can you rescue passed out runners, carry them to their coach and console a teammate who begins throwing up.
Second, as I have enjoyed watching races from a parents’ perspective. What other sport allows you to talk to a total stranger, cheer for athletes you’ve never seen before and discover someone’s life story in 15-20 minutes while the race is ongoing. The only draw back is depending on the course layout, sometimes parents have to run just as far as their children to reach the 1 and 2 mile marks before getting to the finish line. Within the cross country community, there is a special bond which often draws unlikely people together to become close friends as they follow their children throughout their running career.
Finally, as a coach, I had the privilege to be around a middle school team for 3 years. While their energy was sometimes too much for me to handle, I loved seeing each runner improve, often lowering their PR’s after a race. Coach Heiddy, the woman I succeeded for a season, possessed an amazing mix of compassion and toughness to gently urge these young runners to improve. One of the greatest accomplishments as a coach was watching every member of our team run their PR in a race last fall after Heiddy and I videoed their form. This mental picture equipped each athlete to live out 1 Corinthians 9:24.
I played several sports at a competitive level, golf and ultimate frisbee as a professional. Yet, nothing compares to the experiences I have had in cross country. What Eric Liddle said in Chariot’s of Fire is true for many cross country runners, “when you run, you feel God’s pleasure!” Though many athletes hate running, there is a threshold you can cross which helps explain 1 Corinthians 9:27. Once a runner’s mind learns to block out the mental anguish and pain, you can run like Forrest Gump, just not across America and back. Anyway, “run Forrest run” and one day soon, who knows, I may see you at a cross country race!
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 