This is one of the Delphic Maxims that used to adorn the Temple of Apollo in Greece. I am going to assume that the translation of this is rather loose, but the concept is similar. When you start something, finish it, and do not let fear of failure get in your way. The honorable, the right thing, the best then to do is finish the race.
My first experience as a runner was my brief, very brief, experience on the high school track team. Specifically, I was on the cross country team. Perhaps there was a bit of foreshadowing in my life. My mom felt I would be good at running because I was tall and skinny. I think she was trying to make me feel good, my experience trying out for the basketball team, did not go well.
So I found myself on the track team and I stayed with the team long enough for my first event, in which I competed in a 1600 meter race. If you do not know, this is basically 4 laps around an oval track and close to that of a full mile. I fell hopelessly behind in the race, my side ached from cramps, the race finished before I was done with the 3rd lap. Yup, it was that bad. Around the bend of the 3rd lap, when all the other runners were walking away, they were starting to setup for the next event. I sort of just walked off the track and walked away from running for another 30 years.
So I quit the race, or did I? 30 years later, I drug myself out of my hotel room at 5am and ran a little over 400 meters in a pair of dress shoes. That started my running journey, and now more than 1000 days later, I find myself running for enjoyment. Yeah, I quit the race, but that quitting stayed with me and now I can officially say that I finished that race. Perhaps I should go back and find out who the scorekeepers were that day and tell them that yes, I finally finished the race, mark me as complete.
This makes me think of other unfinished business in my life. What other races can I pick up and complete? Did you quit anything? Are you competing now for anything and thinking about quitting? Don’t Chicken Out.
Guy Reams
