I ran cross country when I was in high school. Our competitions were 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) races. Why people choose to race long distances I still don’t know, but it’s what I did. I wasn’t the quickest runner on our team, but I wasn’t bad. Today I had a memory of the person on our team who was the slowest: Robert. However, as I look back, I realize he had the biggest heart.
My first cross country coach was more of a motivational speaker than a running coach; he was a great guy! I remember him telling our team that there are no such things as fast runners and slow runners on our team; there are simply hamburgers and hot dogs, and we are all valuable. When I looked my teammate Robert I questioned the wisdom of this hamburger/hot dog statement.
Robert was one of those kids who everyone picked on. I often felt bad for him, but honestly sometimes I was the one making fun of him. He was overweight, annoying, less than attractive, and had some quirky habits. For some reason this less than seemingly healthy person decided to join the team where you race long distances. Who knows what he was thinking?!
Simply in joining the team Robert received ridicule. I often heard snide comments about him, both behind his back and to his face. Many were along of the lines of, “You’re going to move that overweight body for miles in some sort of running motion? Yeah right!”
To my amazement, Robert did what others said he couldn’t. As the season progressed, what started out as a sight of ridicule and degradation eventually turned in to an amazing testament of someone with a huge heart and will. Some kids unfortunately continued to pick on Robert. However, as much as I’m sure it hurt, he continued on.
I remember one competition where a female race started after the male race Robert competed in (probably about half an hour or more after). Some of the girls in the later race were finishing their run before Robert. But he didn’t give up. He didn’t stop. There were many races where the time keepers stopped the clock before Robert crossed the finish line thinking all runners would have undoubtedly finished. Though discouraged, Robert kept running. And finishing.
Just to be clear, Robert was in the “hamburger” category of our team. However, there aren’t any other teammates I’m remembering right now that I’m still learning from. Though Robert was not a fast runner, he possessed something much deeper within. I have no idea where Robert is now, but I have a feeling he’s still running the race with a drive most can only hope for.
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