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Run the Race

She was sick all night. So much so, that by 5.30am  -the day of her Commonwealth Games race in Glasgow- she was on a drip in hospital. Add the that the fact that her operation previously meant that she still had an open wound and things were not looking so good.

Lynsey Sharp is a Scottish athlete and that day was the day she competed in the 800 metres final. She had scraped in as a ‘fastest loser’ so things were not adding up to any kind of medal. But on the night, she ran. And ran. Breaking apart the Kenyan/Ugandan duo expected to win, she came away with a silver medal.

It was her last race. Her final time on the bike. But rather than try and win, she did something extraordinary. She pushed on ahead, sacrificing her own stamina to help her younger colleague get the gold. And a silver for her- Emma Pooley.

He was in the first leg of the 100 metres relay, first round. But as he stretched away, Kimmari Roache’s leg gave way. Extreme pain. But he kept going. He had to keep going. He owed it to his teammates, and especially Usain Bolt, world 100 metres champion who ran the final leg for Jamaica. Many would have given up. But Kimmari ran through the pain. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now aged 40, with a 10 month old child not so long ago, Jo Pavey could have been forgiven for simply finishing well. It looked like a brave fourth place when she was passed, but she fought back. She finished brilliantly. Breaking into the Kenyan domination of the event, she reached the line and took the bronze.


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12: 1
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