Setting the pace
Sherri from TN knows Wife loves to run. Two running magazines were included in a recent care package, one on ultra-extremist-crazed marathoners and the other for avid runners.
Little known running fact: Some runners have to be told to stay in bed till at least 5 am. It’s not healthy for you to start a run at 4 am after just a few hours’ sleep.
There is normally nothing for me in these magazines. But then I turned to the “Finishing Kick”, the last column in Running Times (November 2006), where Rachel Toor penned a sweet article: Your pace or mine? Leading others to their goals can be better than reaching your own.
Toor’s a member of the Clif Bar Pace Team. She purposely runs marathons slower than she’s able, carrying a wooden dowel with a balloon indicating her projected finishing time. Marathoners can then set their pace to one of the pace runners (3:10 to 5:30) and have a more enjoyable marathon experience (if it’s possible to use “enjoy” and “marathon” in the same sentence).
She writes of the fun she’s had helping runners meet their goals. She tells of the kisses, hugs, even communion between those who cross the line together. And she always waits at the finish line for those who fall behind, congratulating them when they finally finish the race.
Have you noticed that people who live significant lives often imitate Rachel Toor? They will set a pace, not a torrid one, but just right so that they can accompany others and help them achieve their goals. They’ve found the balance between personal drive and real, honest, humble service.
Running 26 miles in less than 4 hours is not my idea of fun. But staying with others and enduring with them until the finish brings more joy and is, according to Toor, more compelling than a Personal Record or a Shiny Metal Object.
If in our own service we do not make the podium, but we accompany others to the finish line… I think God sees that as significant.
October 4th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Several years ago, my National Guard buddy went to Ft. Benning to try and attain the "Expert Infantry Badge." The "EIB" involves several tests including the last test which I believe is a 10 mile march in full infantry gear and it must be down under a certain time. My friend told me it was one of the hardest things he’s ever down. This was before he went to Afghanistan. Thankfully he finished the march and was awarded his “EIB.” Since then, he has returned several times to Ft. Benning when ever any of his soldiers have tried out for their EIB. The only event he does with them is the 10 mile march. He acts as their “pace guide” so they to can win the Infantry’s highest award.
That catches the spirit of the running story: Giving of yourself so you help others succeed. Thanks, E-man, for the thoughts… (Brady)
October 4th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Great thoughts, Brady. Your post makes me think of folks like Barnabas (encourager) and Andrew, who met the Lord first, and then went to get his brother! It also brings to mind one of those numerous e-mails we all get of the inspirational sort about a blind horse, a race horse I think. I can’t remember all of it, but he horse’s owner did not want to end his life, so he put him in the pasture with another horse who wore a bell around his neck. The blind horse was trained to follow the ringing of the bell on the other horse, and that horse was trained to stay near the other. In this way, he lived out his life, being able to get around, not lose his dignity or his life, and have his needs met. If we can do this for someone else, what greater finish line could we reach?
Thanks for the comment. Haven’t ever got that email. Somehow, the animal filter on my email must weed it out. I like what you wrote about not losing dignity. That’s a big part of helping someone, is doing it in a way that doesn’t take away their dignity. In fact, it honors them. (Brady)
October 4th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
The only running I’ve done lately is when I found out the Pepsi machine in the math office was sold out and I had to get down to the one in the main office before the first bell. Does that count?
My book came yesterday. When do we start?
October 4th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Very good, Brady! A little encouragement can take us a long way. And just for the record, I ran once.
October 4th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Running for Pepsi does not count. Running for Dr. Pepper DOES count.
I am very proud of you, Greg.
My book has not arrived yet. But let’s start soon. I’ll just have to catch up.
October 5th, 2006 at 3:36 am
A friend and mentor of mine, Randy Willingham, who now teaches at Harding and consults with churches on conflict mediation recently told me about his exit from the world of wrestling. At the peak of his carrier, which included being ranked #2 in the world and named an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team, he began to find that he got a greater sense of fulfillment out of competing intensly but in the end helping the other wrestler feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from winning the match. It became less about winning and more about facilitating the other competitors. Funny, but people no longer want to fly you across the world to wrestle when you begin to take that approach.
October 5th, 2006 at 3:38 am
Speaking of reading…
I happened upon the book in a store today and picked up a copy. Any chance I could join in the reading? I’d be happy to set up a blog dedicated to the reading and discussing of this and future books.
Let me know what you think…
October 5th, 2006 at 6:15 am
Hey Brad, thanks for the comments.
Would love to have your reflexions on the book. And I think the book blog would be handy. Could we guarantee access to several different moderators?
October 5th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
What book?
October 5th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Judy, a bunch of us are going to read Philip Yancey’s new book on prayer together. We will try to keep the same pace and have one day a week set aside for comments and discussion on our various blogs.
Run out and get your copy of “Prayer: Does It Make a Difference?” by Yancey and join us. We’d love to have your thoughts.
October 5th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
I’ve always wanted to run a marathon. I’ve only run a half-marathon. The problem is that I seem to want to do other things more than I want to run a marathon.
October 5th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
I ran the marathon in 4:08 in 1997. I was trying to break 4 hrs, and a friend of mine helped pace me over the last half of the race. It helped, but even he couldn’t keep me from smacking into “The Wall” like a bug against a windshield.
The next year I didn’t run the whole race but returned the favor by pacing him. He didn’t make his goal time either, but it didn’t really matter. We were there for each other, and that’s what counted most.
To finish is to win.