I have had the privilege to coach high school track and field for the last four years as well as compete during my college days. Countless hours have been spent on a Saturday watching different events and athletes compete and it has been a joy to watch.
Track is one of the purest sports there is as it requires you to compete against yourself: how fast can you run, how far or high you can jump, how far can you throw. Track and field takes an incredible amount of hard work, dedication, endurance, and pain. Track and field will test you mentally, emotionally, and physically in ways other sports will not. Though you do compete against other people, it is ultimately a competition with yourself, how much pain can you endure to finish the race.
When you show up on a Saturday to a track meet, you will see the stands filling with people, feel and smell the slight breeze of a spring morning, hear the coaches and parents encouraging their athletes, and you will feel the excitement and nervousness in the air as athletes begin to warm up for their events. If you pause to look and listen you will quickly realize that track and field is one of the most encouraging and exciting sporting events in the world. Rarely (if every) have I ever heard a disparaging comment about another athlete nor have I seen parents fighting in the stands, nor have I ever seen coaches bickering with each other. (That’s not to say it hasn’t happened) If anything it is always encouraging and uplifting, not matter what place an athlete finishes, because we know what it takes to finish.
- The last runner of the 3200 everyone is clapping and cheering, “Keep going, you are almost there!!”
- The 100 meters “RUN!! GO, Go Go!!”
- A person stumbles and falls in the 110/100 hurdles every person in the stands are yelling, “Get up! Get Up! Don’t give up!”
- The last lap of the 1600 “You got this! Finish strong!!”
After every race there are high fives, hugs and people saying:
- “Good Job!”
- “You did it!”
- “I know the outcome may not be what you wanted, but you did great today!”
- “I’m so proud of you for finishing.”
- “Look at what you accomplished”
- “The outcome doesn’t matter, you got up from tripping over that hurdle and finished!”
Even coaches and parents of opposing teams, will encourage other athletes. Track and Field is really be one big family, no matter what team you are on because we all now what it takes to train, compete, and finish a track event.
Isn’t this what God has called us to do? To see everyone as family, no matter their beliefs, backgrounds, lifestyles, ethnicity. Though we may see life differently, love has no boundaries, no ins and outs, no teams. Everyone needs encouraging because at some point, everyone we meet is going or will be going through trials, hardships, pain, or will be enduring something extremely difficult. Many will be considering giving up on life. Many will be looking for ways to numb the pain of this life.
Therefore, let us see the world as a track meet, not to beat each other in a competition, but to encourage each other to the finish line because this race called life, can be hard and we need each other to finish strong!
Phil Steiner 