by: Topher Wiles
Sweat was
dripping everywhere from my aching body as my legs screamed at me. Then, the cheering erupted. High fives and hugs dominated the moment as
the gracious volunteer hung the heavy metal around my neck and wrapped me in a
“space blanket” on that cold December day.
My feet felt like weighty concrete but my heart was as light as a
feather.
Perhaps it was
the five caffeine laced gelpacks I consumed in my four hour 26.2 mile marathon
run that kept my heart racing. Maybe my
heart was light because, unlike the first unfortunate marathoner who died after
his run, I knew had successfully survived the brutal assault on mind and
body. It’s possible that the light
feeling was the result of the St. Jude’s cancer patients and survivors showing
signs in the last mileage that read, “You’re doing this race for me!” Yet, I believe the biggest motivator was the
accolades and praises of my training coach that made my runner’s high continue
from the Memphis St. Jude’s Marathon all the way home.
Sure, Tough
Mudders were a blast, half-marathons were fun, and sprinting 5k’s to a gold
medal win was exciting, but they weren’t the same as that Marathon with
Don. My friend Don was at least 10 years
my senior and has run in the Boston marathon, which means he is a high level
runner. His wife was also a cross
country coach while he raised four cross country running kids. This guy knew how to train me to run a
marathon. Back in the day when I would
proclaim, “I’m not a runner and I don’t like to run,” Don took me under his
wing and educated me on all things running.
I still don’t like to run, but I’m a proud runner today because Don’s
patient training pulled me along to the prize and that amazing runner’s high.
Don’s secret
training methods weren’t about buying Eliud Kipchoge’s record breaking shoes or
the latest breakout training routine.
Don simply pulled me along and encouraged me every step of the way. For months he texted me frequently to
coordinate running schedules together.
He helped me rehab through injuries and gently corrected my form
offering little tips along our journey together. During the long runs, when Don could tell my
body was starting to give up, my training partner would always run two steps
ahead of me, shielding me from the headwind, pacing me with his time, and
constantly encouraging me with his words.
Even during the race, Don would pull just a couple steps ahead of me,
challenging me to quicken my pace all until the last half mile, when he shifted
behind me encouraging me to take the lead and the photo finish glory in the
home stretch. I was ecstatic crossing
the finish line because I had reached not only my goals but I made my training
coach proud.
After multiple races totaling hundreds of miles since my
marathon run of 2014, I’ve only been able to duplicate that runner’s high
feeling a couple times, with one happening a few weeks ago. That lighthearted feeling lasted all day
after the race and well into the week, except this time, it was me who crossed
the finish line a half step behind a runner.
My son, Gabriel (8th grade), had never run more than a 5 miler
before he expressed interest in running the Sawbriar half-marathon in Jamestown,
TN. I was worried about whether or not a
14 year old could accomplish this extensive distance, considering there just
aren’t any real middle school cross-country options nearby to train him. So every
week I monitored Gabriel and his progress while sharing little tips that I have
learned in my years of running. When we
ran together on long runs, Gabriel was silently conserving every breath for his
lungs and legs while I chattered away about life, running, and God to keep his
mind from focusing on his aching legs and burning lungs.
On race day
Gabriel was visibly nervous about his first ever 13.1 mile race, especially
since it was rainy and cold, but our prayer together with church elder Ty Webb
at the starting line lowered his heart rate and helped set the stage for one of
his biggest achievements in pursuit to date.
Like my training coach had done for me years ago, I stayed two steps
ahead for the first 12.5 miles. Then, as
we sprinted to the finish line, my smile lengthened and my heart skipped a beat
as I watched Gabriel out run me by a half step, accepting the cheers, hugs, and
high fives of family and friends. My
achievement in the Sawbriar Half was not my personal record, but I finally
duplicated that amazing runner’s high of 2014 as Gabriel lifted his award for
first place in the under 18 division.
Friends, we may
not all be called to run the road, but we are called in this life to be like a
training coach like Don, patiently pulling other people to the prize. You may be called to focus on your family as
you help a child set and reach their goals in family, education, or their
career. Your calling may be toward a
young person at church as you pull, train, and cheer them to reaching spiritual
milestones. A struggling family in the
community may be your aim as you patiently guide them through the trials of
life. Whoever it is, remember that
reaching those same milestones you’ve already eclipsed takes patient time in
training, helpful and positive tips from your experience, and a lot of
encouragement along the way. There are
few greater joys than helping others succeed.
Now, who are you going to patiently pull to the prize?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1
The word “forte” comes from the latin word “fortis” meaning strength. Our weekly Family Forte article in The Expositor is the effort of family at Central Church of Christ to give your family the love, care, and attention it needs to become a stronger version of itself. If we can help you in any way, please contact us at Central Church of Christ through email, topherwiles@spartacoc.com, or through our website, www.christiscentral.org.
