The Human Struggle

The Marathon. No event, perhaps outside of the Ironman, shows the human will more clearly than the running of 26.2 miles.

This weekend I had the great pleasure of watching the Dallas White Rock Marathon and seeing my two friends Lana and Sarah attempt this great feat. I was training to do this race myself with them, but due to mitigating circumstances (a knee injury and surgery - blah!) I had to forgo this noble goal.

But not only did I get to see my two friends run, I also got to see a wide variety of people participate. Tall and short, fat and skinny, young and old, all were out running the "Rock". One man even jump-roped the whole course while another man, certainly over 50, carried the American flag the entire way!

The amazing thing was watching the average person, probably never an athlete in their life, do something that less than 1% of the world has ever done. To see the determination, the raw grit, and the joy that comes from this trial is surely a testament to the gifts that God has given us.

Training and running the marathon teaches us that we are capable of things that we would never have believed possible. I ran a marathon three years prior and the last ten miles were ten of the hardest miles I ever ran in my life. Never would I have thought that I could put my body through such torture, but through sheer determination, plus a little help from my parents, I did! Knowing that I accomplished that puts new perspective on any other challenge before me that if I really want to do something, I can.

This may seem a little overly cheesy or corny tonight, but go out and try a marathon yourself. You just let me know and I'll give you a training plan and everything. No one is exempt from saying they cannot do one. Unless you think your less capable than an 80 year old man!