Running Through Pain, Toward Glory
The Final Stretch: Running Through Pain, Toward Glory
There are moments in life when the body is failing, the mind is clouded, and all that keeps you moving is something far deeper—something eternal. That was my reality as I approached the final kilometers of the 2025 Comrades Marathon. And today, I want to share that experience alongside a memory from over twenty years ago—a time when the finish line looked very different, but the spiritual lesson was just as profound.
A Road Marked by Pain
The last 7 kilometers of Comrades 2025 were like a desert—scattered with runners who had collapsed from exhaustion. Some lay flat on the hot tar, others slumped against walls, broken by the journey. I knew the danger of stopping. My legs trembled. My balance disappeared whenever I paused. Only forward motion, no matter how slow, kept me upright.
I needed to average 8 minutes per kilometer in those final moments, but my body was moving at double that time. The pain in my left foot, the swelling, the possible overhydration without enough electrolytes—everything worked against me. I may have gone out too fast earlier. I may not have trained as well as I could. But somehow, I kept going.
There were no crowds cheering me on this time. No cameras. No finish-line energy. Just a few kind helpers offering to escort me to the medical tent. I leaned against a pole, dizzy and disoriented. One runner even called out for a stretcher on my behalf. I declined. Something in me—perhaps foolish, perhaps faithful—refused to surrender.
I had taken in caffeine to stay alert, and later that evening, I couldn’t sleep. My body was drained, but my mind was racing. I felt alone. No fanfare. No finish-line fireworks. Just a quiet, painful perseverance.
The Joy of a Different Finish
And then, my heart went back to a different time—more than two decades earlier—when I ran the streets of Durban. That year, I had missed the cutoff two years in a row. I didn’t know if I had it in me to finish. But as I ran through cheering crowds, who stood so close they formed a human tunnel, I found something extra inside. I remember saying, “I’m going to make it. I will finish this time.”
And I did.
When I entered the stadium, emotion overwhelmed me. People were clapping, shouting encouragement, celebrating with me. And in that moment, I saw a glimpse of heaven—a picture of the day I would finish my eternal race and be welcomed by saints and loved ones, cheering as I crossed that final line. I cried tears of joy, not just for completing the earthly race, but for the hope of something greater.
Running With Purpose
This contrast between the two finishes—one celebrated, the other silent—taught me something I’ll never forget: it’s not the crowd that makes the finish significant. It’s who you’re running with—and Who you’re running toward.
In 2025, I realized that my own effort—no matter how determined—could not carry me home. I needed help. I needed a companion. A Savior.
I thought of Jesus—the One who ran His own painful race on earth and finished it, not for His own sake, but for mine. He endured the cross so I could receive the crown. He walked a lonely road so I’d never be alone in mine. And when my strength fails, His never does.
The Buddy Who Brings You Home
There comes a time in every runner’s life when you realize that finishing well doesn’t come from trying harder—it comes from trusting deeper. I have a running partner in Jesus. He knows my struggle. He knows the fatigue. He knows the pain. And more importantly, He’s already prepared the way.
One day, when I reach the ultimate finish line, it won’t be my legs that carry me through. It’ll be grace. And I believe with all my heart that there will be cheering. Not because I was strong, but because I kept the faith. Because I didn’t quit. Because He didn’t quit on me.
So I run on.
Not for medals. Not for recognition. But because there is a prize that never fades—a crown of righteousness, a home in heaven, and a Savior waiting at the finish line saying, “Well done.”
Reflection Questions for Readers:
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Have you ever felt like giving up—physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
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Who do you rely on when your own strength is not enough?
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Are you running your race with Jesus, or trying to finish it alone?
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