Crawling Over the Finish Line
Running the race of life
by Claire Law
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To recognise some of the challenges of the autumn term by considering the metaphor of a marathon as running the race of life.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides accompanying this assembly (Crawling Over the Finish Line) and the means to display them.
- You will need the YouTube clip ‘Marathon runner Hayley Caruthers collapses just before the finish’ and the means to display it. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpt1mzlSjFg
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Welcome the students. - Ask the students to raise their hands if they are ready for the half term holiday.
Ask if any of them are feeling tired or like they might not make it to the end in one piece! - Point out that the autumn term is usually longer than the spring and summer terms. The school year is distributed unevenly, so the autumn term can sometimes feel like a long time. After a restful and relaxing 6-week summer holiday, the return to school and the first half term of the academic year, the autumn term can feel a bit like running a marathon.
- Show Slide 2.
This is runner Hayley Carruthers, close to the finishing line of the London Marathon. After running almost all of the 26.2 mile course, Hayley’s legs gave way just before the finishing line. She collapsed to the floor. Digging deep, she mustered her very last bit of energy to crawl her way over the finishing line.
Show the YouTube clip ‘Marathon runner Hayley Caruthers collapses just before the finish’. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpt1mzlSjFg - Despite crawling over the finishing line, Hayley still managed to beat her personal best time by three minutes, finishing in 02:33:59.
She crossed the line in 18th place and says it was the toughest thing both physically and mentally that she's ever had to do.
Hayley was 26 at the time of the race and worked in the NHS. Reflecting on her experience, she said: ‘We started too fast and I got carried away with the excitement of being in the elite race and all the excitement of London really.
We ran the first half far too quickly and it just ended up being a survival fest.
I started counting my steps and my head was gone, I think I lost sight in one eye.
I just couldn't lift my legs at all and I just couldn't move.
It was just petrifying.' - Despite being an elite runner, Hayley was able to learn from this experience, recognising the importance of pacing herself when running a marathon. Despite getting carried away in the early stages and running too fast, Hayley showed great determination, endurance and resilience in making it over the finish line, even if that meant crawling.
- As we keep on working hard through these last days of this half term; when we feel tired, worn out or like giving in, perhaps thinking about Hayley could help us to keep on going. To dig deep, pace ourselves well and find our own resilience and endurance to keep going.
Time for reflection
The analogy of life being like a race is not a new one. In the Bible, running is used in several places as a metaphor for living a Christian life.
Show Slide 3.
Read the verses:
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.’ Hebrews 12:1
‘Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we have an imperishable one.’ 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
In these brief passages, life is seen as a race with challenges. Life is seen as a race that requires determination, endurance and a willingness to run away from wrong and towards faith.
Let's take a moment to consider our own experiences of living life as if it were a marathon. As we take time to reflect silently on each of these questions, let’s allow ourselves to notice our thoughts and any feelings we have in response.
Can you recall a time recently when you have felt something similar to how you imagine Hayley might have felt in her marathon – worn out, exhausted and yet determined not to give in?
What helps you to keep going when things are tough?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
Hayley recognised the importance of pacing herself in a marathon. In your own life, how can you get the balance between resting and relaxing, and working hard to achieve your goals? What changes can you make to the ways you approach schoolwork to help you pace yourself?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
In the Bible, we read the guidance to ‘persevere in running the race that lies before us’. What does the word persevere mean to you? And how can you persevere in the last days of this half term?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
Prayer:
Dear God,
As we continue through this half term, please help us to find the energy, strength and ability to pace ourselves well.
Please help us to find endurance and determination when things are tough.
Please help us to be there for others as they too run the race of life.
Please help us to encourage other people.
Amen.
