Run Like This

cross-country poem

Crack of start-gun rents the stillness:
misty, autumn dawn erupts with bodies 
leaping from the line as cheers, names
screamed, and frenzied clapping rise 
from crowd of witnesses that surges 

after rush of athletes like secondary
wave of foam. Run so.
Pounding footfalls hammer earth
in syncopated charge on hill.
Each measured stride accompanied

by breath in perfect harmony,
for oxygen controls the fight
and lung capacity lets runners pull
free from crowded elbows in the throng.
Each mile thins the leaders out

until half a dozen battle
for the front. Run so.
Hands slice air to pull along
body aching in breath’s rhythm
as each one races former time.

Flagging muscles. Can you hear your name?
Look up to find you're closer
to the line than you had thought,
determine to catch that one in front
as legs find a fresh burst of speed

possible. Run through the line. 
Fall to the ground.
Give way to gasps
and sweet stillness. First or last,
if you've kept the faith, your race is won.

Run so.

Photo by Haley Harms on Unsplash

I have been writing a cross-country poem in my brain all season and finally committed it to paper after reading Esther’s cross-country chant that she wrote for her boys.

A Runner's Chant

I love how Esther said that running made her think of the joyful ending of Last Battle when they cry “further up and further in!” Watching runners give their all is inspiring at all race times and abilities. It is a grueling sport and takes mental toughness at any level of competition. Each runner is racing their former time, which makes it one of the only sports in which all participants can win. By the end, these runners are visibly fighting through pain, and it makes me want to run with perseverance this race set out for us.

You can’t help but think of the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on when you see how a flagging runner responds to the sound of their name or the reminder that they are on their last hill. I especially love when a tight grouping of runners from the same team spurs each other on to reach new times and break through seemingly impossible goals. This is why Christ sent out his disciples in twos and threes. If you feel that your prayers with others are more vibrant or meaningful than your prayers alone, rejoice that you are indeed human and responding appropriately to the God-given blessings of fellowship and being part of the body. And go watch a cross-country race when you get the chance! It might bring a tear to your eye. You might write a poem.