Finisher or Competitor

October 18, 2011

The phone rang Saturday evening; Lyle Clausen returned my call from earlier in the day. Lyle is in the South Dakota Hall of Fame, inducted at the age of forty-seven for running and coaching achievements prior to reaching age forty.

Achievements continued during his coaching tenure at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The cross country teams’ accumulated NCAA Division II team finishes of 8th, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th between 1990 and 1995; along with many athletes recognized as ‘All-Americans.’ His running achievements include finishing the marathon in every minute in the 2:20s at least twice.

Additionally, Lyle mentored me in training for the marathon. He emphasized proper training, training with a plan of increasing speed and endurance; callusing my body and mind to the pain experienced while running a competitive marathon. Running under three hours, qualifying for the Boston Marathon was a relative easy accomplishment without proper training.

Running in the 2:40s was achievable if lacking prudent direction. However, I sought to be as competitive as possible; moreover Lyle continued prodding the desire for excellence. We believe in honoring the Lord Jesus Christ by fully submitting our body and mind to the training he places before us to achieve His will for our life.

During this Saturday’s phone conversation, we delved into discussing the marathon. Lyle described the paradigm shift from previous decades when any healthy person who toed the marathon starting line expected to be competitive to today’s paradigm where many participate simply to cross the finish line.

Lyle spoke of the days when the accepted, yet unspoken, standard for men was 2:36 and women 3:00 (three hours). Conversely, an abundance of today’s young, healthy participants are content finishing in four or five hours. Stating the obvious, the body's necessary adaptations for good marathons take time; often several years of consistent building of speed and stamina through running and training.

These slower times are a function of complacency and the resulting unwillingness for proper training. Training, in addition to speed and endurance, includes diet and weight management. Finishing the marathon is now an accepted achievement, regardless of lack of competitiveness in light of one’s ability if properly applied. “Hey, but you participated and finished,” is now considered a compliment.

A competitive marathon requires submitting every ounce of energy you possess. This physically hurts, thus few are willing to fully engage. The internal satisfaction of accomplishment is beyond comprehension of those simply striving to participate and finish.

Is the marathon mentality of participating instead of competing reflective of society’s spiritual life? Do many of us engage our walk with Jesus Christ as simply an activity to meander along, desiring only to participate and finish? Do we still engage in challenging training to callous our heart and mind to life’s ups and downs necessary for achieving the highest level God calls us to achieve in glorifying Christ?

Are we developing our spiritual speed and endurance? Are we increasing our speed of responding to Christ’s people with love, forgiveness, rebuke and assisting them in increasing their vision and our vision? Are we increasing our ability to endure responding to God’s word, love and rebuke?

Are we seeking to love God and his people with every ounce of energy we possess? This too is often externally painfully while internally gratifying beyond any measure.

Or are we simply content to participate and finish as Christians unwilling to truly challenge ourselves?

Are you a finisher or a competitor?

Flourish in the abundant life, fully submit and engage your spiritual life in training and running with Christ.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com