When ever I'm watching my kids (or anyone) run races, I am always telling them to get their eyes up. I did it too when I was young and it took a lot of reminders from coaches and my dad for me to get my eyes up. What do I mean? Well, many times when you are running a race through either focus or fatigue, your eyes naturally fall to look down at where your feet are going. No matter why a runner does it, it is not a good thing. If you are too focused on your next step, you are not focused on where the competition is ahead of you, your running form or just being engaged in the race. It's a kind of escape. Some might argue with my perspective, but I really think it's difficult to run a race well looking only at the 3 feet in front of your next stride. Your eyes need to be focused out ahead of you. Keeping them set on the competition in front and the finish line. This propels and pulls a runner into the art of pushing through pain and driving home. With all that being said, when it comes to trail running you must keep your eyes paying attention to what is on the trail and the twists ahead so you don't trip....it doesn't always work, but it helps. But, eyes are still up on the trail ahead, not down focused on the 3 feet ahead. Make sense? Maybe not, but track with me.
I ran in the Mohican 100 marathon a couple of days ago. I ran last year and loved it and signed up right away to race again this year. It was a good day. I had a good run and faster than last year. However, at about 22 miles in, I made a critical mistake that cost me a place. I made a left turn to head up a trail to the last aid station and what do you know? My friend working the aid station gently tells me that I came in a different way than other racers. Huh. Well, that's a problem. Knowing that my mistake cost me time and added distance, I had to decide to turn around, back track, and come into the aid station on the marked course so that I wouldn't be disqualified from the race. I did it, shaking my weary head all the time, knowing that I had just cost myself a chance at winning.
Now, I can try to justify my mess up with the fact that the trail I took was part of the course last year or that the course markings were deceiving or the path was beaten down. But, when it comes down to it, if I had turned my head to the right, and gotten my eyes up off the 3 feet in front of me, I would have seen the flags for the correct route down the trail about 15 feet and I would have never broke stride. It was my fault.
I had a good finish line cry in front of too many friends and family, as if my bloody knees, sweat soaked clothes and seizing muscles weren't humiliating enough, now I had to own up to my wrong turn. It's a pretty raw state.
But I soon felt joyful and content. Why? What was this weird flooding feeling of humble satisfaction I had after such disappointment? Why did I feel such thankfulness? I know what it was because I prayed for The Lord to make it true. I prayed for this the whole week before the race....I prayed that He would be glorified and I would be satisfied. I could only feel thankful for spending the day running through the forest in strength and health next to friends. I felt gratitude for the chance to deepen relationships, cast away disappointment and humbly accept where God placed me. I felt pure joy for seeing my mistake as a blessing because it gave me a chance to point to my Savior. And He taught me these things...
Esteeming others as better than myself. The fruit of repentance. The attitude which rejoices in the success of others. The freedom from having to be right. The foundation of unity. The mark of authenticity. The fruit of brokenness. The quality which catches the attention of God." ~Sue Ramsey
I know that keeping my eyes up and alert in racing is a good thing. I am reminded now how much of a difference it can make. Not only in propelling through pain, but also to know the path ahead. Sometimes it's hard to tell the direction to travel in this life. Splits in the road get foggy, aren't marked well and can be confusing. Pain and weariness can cloud our vision. It might be tempting to take the familiar path, but maybe that isn't the best way after all. I think of Hebrews 12.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." Hebrews 12:1-2
I also know that God will use our mistakes to draw us up closer to Him.
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