I'll be so happy if you could sign my guestbook.Thank you very much. |
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My Stories for the following marathons: |
"Marathon running is a terrible experience: monotonous, heavy, and exhausting." -- Veikko Karvonen, 1954 European and Boston Marathon Champ |
Singapore Marathon 2005 Perhaps my final marathon |
Singapore Marathon 2004 First and only marathon running with a partner |
Singapore Marathon 2003 Training for this marathon hampered by prostate infection |
Singapore Marathons 1997, 1999, 2002 Struggle to overcome a painful severely torn hamstring injury |
Honolulu Marathon 1991 My last marathon in Hawaii |
Honolulu Marathon 1990
A marathon for which I did not train at all |
Honolulu Marathon 1988 My first marathon in Hawaii |
Singapore Marathon 1987 My very first marathon |
Other Races: |
New Balance 10 km Run 2005
First time I ran barefoot in a race. |
Singapore Marathon 2006 The clumsiest of all my marathons so far. Tripped twice and fell down once. |
Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2006 My very first stair-climbing race - 73 storeys. I was the only barefoot runner. |
Greatest Reward |
There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They "shook out" their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their "game faces."
In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests. There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away. At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest. When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, "I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!" Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are "running the race" (I Cor. 9:24-25). It is a race that has a prize for those who finish (notice, not those who finish first, but all who finish). This prize, according to Paul, is an "imperishable crown." The rewards for those who enter heaven are described in scripture with a lot of terms -- "many mansions", "streets of gold", "tree of life", and the list goes on and on. All of those things are attractive. That's why God tells us about them. But I would be willing to give up all the streets of gold and settle for a small corner of a shack as long as I can know the reward of being able to stand beside my King. That's what I look forward to more than anything else. It is the one thing that will make heaven the wonderful reward that it will be. "...The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." (Rev. 22:3) Run the race with diligence. Your King is watching and waits for you at the finish line! Alan Smith (CCECstorylist-subscribe@MyInJesus.com) by way of “Christian Voices” |
Back to Why I Run the Marathon |
Singapore Marathon 2007 "Don't run this marathon", Mom said, "you are still sick". I didn't take her advice - I soon regretted. |