Watching from the finish line
Point of V iew
The finish line of a cross country meet is not a place for the faint of heart. This is probably doubly so at the state meet held in Wisconsin Rapids this past Saturday. The number of pained expressions that flash by me as I take pictures are uncountable. Many athletes collapse after crossing the line, fatigue bringing them to their knees. The fact that they had been staving off that very exhaustion just moments before is a testament to the grit and willpower necessary to compete in the sport.
But there is no rest to be had at the finish. These athletes are quickly ushered back to their feet, constantly commanded by race staff that they can’t stop here, that they need to keep moving forward. These commands feel a bit cruel, even to myself as a bystander, often delivered in a matter-of-fact manner that seems to hold little compassion for the pain the finishers must be in. Granted, it is necessary, lest the finish line become a log jam that could lead to further injury. So the athletes continue to move onwards.
With that scene in mind, I can only express my utmost admiration for anyone who takes part in the sport. While physicality and athleticism certainly hold their sway, there is also a significant “mind-over-matter” factor that comes into play when determining success in cross country. That fact is no more apparent than the ten meters immediately after the finish line.
A cross country meet is a battle not only against your competitors, but also against yourself. Do I really need to run this fast? Could I really catch that runner in front of me? Even if I do, is it really worth the effort? These questions, whether conscious or subconscious, come with each stride, and athletes need to continue to answer “yes” to each every time in order to succeed.
And not only does that come into play during the meets themselves, but also in all of the preparation necessary beforehand. Weeks, months, years of training and practice, all in service of a 15-30 minute race. But these athletes decided that it was indeed worth it, and they dedicated the time and energy to reach this point. For some, it may boggle the mind. Why put yourself through the trouble? Why push yourself so far? What do you get out of it? That’s a tricky question to answer. Each individual will likely have a different reason. Some might think those to be foolish or crazy. But, regardless of goal or motivation, one cannot deny their dedication and hard work. That’s part of the reason I like watching sports. They are a reminder that while we may have our limitations, we can still achieve great things by pushing ourselves to those limits. It’s sometimes hard to maintain those motivations, especially when things get hard. You might reach a finish line, only to be coaxed on to continue despite your exhaustion, lest you get run over by the flow of the people around you. Sports can showcase why you get back up, or why you even tried in the first place, and that’s something I find both thought-provoking and inspiring.
