Running Towards The First Finish.

As your coach, I stand helplessly as you struggle to breathe. You are about to start your first race and you’re not breathing. People are desperately trying to get you to take a breath. Finally, you take that first breath, and those helping you step back. I look at you and tears come down my face. I am so relieved. You reach up and take my hand and I help you up.

As you line up at the starting line, I find myself both proud and scared. I wonder to myself what kind of racer you will be. Will you lead the pack? Will you come from behind? Will you play a supportive role on the team, helping them win without taking the recognition of being the star? Are you even ready for the race? After all, it was just moments ago you couldn't breathe.

I want to tell you that you can't race. You're not ready. But you insist on running. I stand back, scared of you starting this. The gun goes off and you take off like a rocket ship. My first thought was how fast you are. You seem larger than life. Bold. Fearless. I knew that you were going to be a fantastic runner.

That first mile you came through without much of a challenge. You were still at a sprint. You were going for it.

As the race went on I saw how intelligent of a runner you were. You knew the race you were going to run. You were running the race relentlessly. I saw your resilience as you ran, never giving up, and fighting for every step. There were runners more talented than you that relented and you pushed past them.

As the race continued I noticed that you had your detractors. Those who didn’t think that you deserved to be in the race. Those who thought you should drop out of the race. Those who criticized your form. Those who thought that you didn’t think you had what it took to be a runner. It didn’t matter to you. You kept running.

As runners fell, you would stop and pick them up. You showed tremendous compassion to all the runners, including your competition. You understood the spirit of the run. You encouraged them as they ran. You forgave those that cut you off, those who elbowed you as they went by, and those who pushed you out of the way.

Those cheering the runners on would take notice of this and I would stand a little taller, proud of the runner you were becoming in this race. You were in the race to win but not on your own but together. As the race progressed, I learned that you were a front-runner that led from the middle of the pack.

As you approached the finish line of this first race I knew that you now needed a new coach. Someone else will have to take the reigns. I wondered if I had taught you all you needed to know to move on to the next race. I think about the gaps in my coaching. Things I didn’t tell you. Races I didn’t prepare you for. I hoped that what you did learn would be enough.

I well up as I watch you with your friends as you gather around the finish line. Laughing with one another. I see other coaches approach you asking if they could work with you. I see fans pat you on the back. I am sad that you will be moving on to the next race. I am proud that you are excited about the next race.

You have won that first race.

And That is the Transformative Power of the Run