Be a Finisher
When I was in the sixth grade several of the classes were outside doing relay races, class against class. I was known as a pretty fast runner so was chosen to run on the third leg of a four-leg race. We were to run from one end of a grassy field, touch the fence and run back, passing off a ruler that was our “baton”.
The excitement grew. It was for class pride. We had to win!
The race started with the crack of the firing pistol. The girl from our class led off. She was fast, but two other classes had faster runners. When she came back, she passed the ruler off to the next runner from our class: a boy who was tall and brawny, but who had speed. He started to catch up.
By the time he reached the fence he’d passed the girl in second place and was even with the boy in the lead. He put on a burst of speed and by the time he reached me, he had taken over the lead!
The ruler was held up for me to grab as the boy sped past the waiting line. All I had to do was snatch it and take off running. We were going to win! I took off running. The ruler slipped from my hands. I spun and looked for it, but couldn’t find it! Cheers were rising from the kids all down the line as their runners crossed the line, made the hand off, and the next leg started for the fence.
I was panicked. I had failed my team! Then I found the ruler. I picked it up and turned to find that I was now in last place. My dropping the ruler had cost my team the win.
I could have given up at that point. There was no way the distance could be made up. But then something overcame me and I decided to just try, to give it everything I had. Even if we didn’t win, it would be okay.
Pumping my legs as fast as I could run, I didn’t even think about conserving my strength. I just ran flat out, hoping I could make up some of the distance. Then to my surprise, I started gaining on the runners. I was flabbergasted. I kept up the pace, and passed one, then two. When I touched the fence, I was in third. I couldn’t believe it! I was gasping for breath and my side hurt, but I kept pushing myself.
About half the distance back I passed the second runner, and then the first! I couldn’t believe it. The pain went away. I didn’t think about my breathing. I pushed even harder and gained on the lead as I crossed the line and handed off the ruler to our final runner.
You know, I don’t remember who won the race. What I do remember is the feeling I had when I pushed myself for all I was worth, and ran all the way to the end. In the beginning it seemed hopeless. But pushing and getting that feeling of succeeding made all the pain vanish in comparison.
I still feel it today. I didn’t beat the other runners. I beat myself. I proved to myself that I could do it. I just needed to push myself all the way to the end.
The race in life doesn’t go to the fastest. It goes to those who push themselves for all they’re worth, all the way to the end.
If you do, you’ll surely win.
