The Finish Line

When I was in college, I ran on the cross-country team. In the final event of the season, the state’s small colleges competed against each other, with about 75 runners in the event. We ran the 5-kilometer course in the rain and mud on a cold November day.

As I neared the finish line, I spied a runner from one of the other schools just s short distance ahead of me. He became my goal. I ran as hard as I could and passed her just as I crossed the finish line. That last dash meant I finished 42nd, which seemed a lot better than 43rd! It meant our team finished one position higher in the final standings than the team represented by the runner I beat. The point? I didn’t give up—I ran all the way through the finish line.