The Race Called Life

by Ruth Vanden Bosh, RN, MA

Yesterday, I was watching the Mt. Baldhead 5K race in Saugatuck, MI (No it's not named after Bernie).

The race requires runners to run up 500 stairs to the top of a large sand dune, through the state park and back through the villages of Saugatuck and Douglas, MI. The night before, we had over 4 inches of rain, and the air was humid and 65 degrees. The runners had to contend with wet sand in their shoes as well as biting black flies.

As I watched the runners preparing for the race, I noticed runners who were having a ball. They were there to have fun and do the best that they could in spite of the challenges they encountered along the way.

I also noticed other runners who looked miserable. They were determined to win the race no matter what happened. They were in top form with expensive racing clothes and shoes. I doubt if fat, sugar or salt ever crossed their lips, and winning is the only name of their game.

Having fun was for the other guys.

At the end of the race, I met my neighbor and two of his friends from Chicago who had come in 2nd in their respective age classes. They were miserable because they were not #1. I told them I was impressed by their winning 2nd place. They thought I was "touched" for suggesting that #2 is OK. I reminded them about the slogan for Avis Rental cars. "We're #2, but we try harder."

Later in the day, my family and I went to a restaurant at a large apple orchard. The placemats on the table had quotations and poems from the by-gone days... I brought one home written by Rex Hrusoff, a Marine in WWI and gave it to my neighbor and his friends to read.

Methuselah ate what he found on his plate
and never, as people do now

did he note the amount of the calorie count.
He ate it because it was chow.

He wasn't disturbed as at dinner he sat
destroying a roast or pie.

To think it was lacking on granular fat,
or a couple of vitamins shy.

He cheerfully chewed every species of food,
untroubled by worries or fears,

Lest his health might be hurt by some fancy dessert,
and he lived over 900 years."

The message of the race is that being #1 is fine. However, doing the best that you can and trying harder is better. Have fun along the way and you will be rewarded with dessert at the end of the race.

submitted by
Ruth Vanden Bosh, RN, MA

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