Run. Stop. Run.

Speaking as someone who loves to run, when I think about rest and renewal my mind slips back to a race that I participated in a couple of years ago at Medoc Mountain State Park. (Many areas in life can be related to a race.) It was very cool that October morning or at least it was until the 10-mile trail race began. The starting horn was sounded and hundreds of runners began their journey. It didn’t take long before the temperature was no longer an issue. The scene was beautiful and you couldn’t help but admire God’s beauty all around. The scenery was constantly changing and so were the challenges. At times, the path was wide with many so many runners that you had to fight for position. Other times, it was narrow and there was no one by your side. Sometimes the way was flat and easy but most of the race was difficult. Hills so steep your calves would burn. Downhill stretches that made your shins sting. 


I saw many people fall that day due to unforeseen hindrances such as slippery spots, roots, stumps, rocks and weeds. The course was literally one obstacle after another. Each obstacle had its own unique degree of difficulty but the one hardest to overcome was, without a doubt, fatigue. It was somewhere around the 6 mile marker that I started to slow down due to a light headed feeling, perhaps a drop in sugar or lack of water that was long gone. Whatever the reason, it was obviously having a negative impact on my body. It was grueling but I had been making excellent time. Up ahead, in a clearing beside a field, was a stand where you could stop for water or Gatorade. I could not afford to rest because it would hurt my overall time. Every second spent not running was costly. Although my instinct was to continue, it was overruled by my fatigue. As I stopped for Gatorade I watched many pass me by and to be honest, it discouraged me but I was determined to finish. The odd thing is that although that time counted against me, in the end it actually helped me. As I restarted my quest, I quickly caught my second wind and found a renewed energy level like I had near the beginning of the race. Many of those that passed me as I was stopped were now being caught and passed by me. I felt such a feeling of accomplishment as I crossed the finish line and was awarded with a medal around my neck. I learned a very valuable lesson that day. When it seems that you just don’t have time to stop, that is, in reality, the time that you MUST stop. The rest will give you a renewed energy to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”   -KSB