Finish lines are crazy places.  A fairly arbitrary line is drawn and people get there as fast they can.  Folks are crying and puking and collapsing.  They are also smiling and hugging and celebrating. If you ever need inspiration for running, find a job at the finish line of a full or half marathon.  I had two hours at the end of the Lincoln Marathon a few weeks back and it is the kind of experience that brings you energy once again.

I’ve been doing this running thing long enough where I think I sometimes get a bit jaded.  I don’t honestly question whether or not I am going to finish the race.  While a DNF is always a possibility (especially in some of the longer races I’ve done), it still something of an abstract idea.  The big question for me is how is the race going to go.  Will it be a struggle for longer than I expect?  What might I end up overall?  How am I going to finish in my age group?  I take it for granted that finishing the race is going to happen.

But watching the finish of the races back in early May, I was struck by the range of emotions.  As a high school coach I work with new runners all the time.  But those are still the formative years of an individual.  You are supposed to be trying new things at that point of your life.  As runners came across the 50 yard line of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln it was just different.  Guessing where people were in their lives and knowing the range of experiences and motivations was fun game.  Seeing is believing though.  The facial expressions, the hugs among family and training partners (could be the same thing), the gratitude to the National Guard members handing out finishers medals.

The majority of runners I was bearing witness to were finishing a half.  Maybe it was their first half.  A life long goal.  A life affirming goal.  This was a task they decided to go for in this point of their life.  Something new.  Something difficult.  Something they may have had no idea how to even approach.  They asked questions.  They found someone to help them.  Possibly they went for it on their own.  The work got done.  They had the courage to start and then overcame whatever factors to get to the finish.  Then they got to celebrate with a goal met and a job well done.

Running is weird like that.  What I mean is that you could apply this idea of challenge and goal setting and courage to almost any new activity.  I want to learn the harmonica.  Someone might be all about pickle ball. Another is down with baking or gardening. Fixing engines.  The list goes on.  Running is different though.  It is objective.  You finish or you don’t.  You run that goal time or you don’t.  You finish at a certain place or you don’t.  I won’t know for sure when I learn the harmonica.  But I know damn well the result of my race.  That can be really frustrating. It can also be really up-lifting.  If you want to feel what I am saying just go watch a finish line.