Yesterday I opened up a Facebook page and Instagram account for The Long Haul, which covers my efforts to ride stupidly long distances. As I recorded the first videos for it, I marveled about what it means for me to move from competitive sports (and sprint-based sports) to endurance sports.
No longer is my goal to beat someone else (although I’m sure my competitive drive will encourage that). My goal is now to finish, to reach the end under my own power, regardless of what happens along the way.
A man I long admired gave a talk called “Finishers Wanted.” I recognize that I am a strong and frequent starter, but finishing hasn’t been a strength of mine.
So the choice comes to me, do I start and then falter, or do I “run with patience the race that is set before [me]”? (Hebrews 12: 1)