Turtles On Fencwposts

TURTLES ON FENCEPOSTS

Have you ever driven along a country road and seen a turtle sitting on top of a fencepost? When it happens you may be surprised or startled; but one thing you know: HE DIDN'T GET THERE BY HIMSELF! Someone gave him a lift. Someone helped him get where he is.
That is the way I view us as runners. We are among the greatest of debtors. We didn't get where we are alone. Others have helped us along the way. We may recognize it or we may not; but that does not really lessen what we owe.
1. MOST OF US HAVE HAD PERSONAL MENTORS. We can call to mind right now one special person or maybe a host of people who have helped us. It may be someone who went out of their way to explain things to us at our first race. It might have been a friend who encouraged us at our darkest moments when we wanted to quit. Then there are those who paced us as we developed plus those who freely shared with us the secrets of good running. We look back; and we can't help but be grateful.
2. WE ARE INDEBTED TO THE SPONSORS. Perhaps you have felt (as I have) that someone was making a killing on a given race. After you had paid a premium for registration there were dinky awards for limited age groups, poor refreshments and helpers that couldn't have told you the date for Christmas. Those things happen, and we feel like apologizing for them; but for every one like that there are nine or maybe nineteen volunteers who are sacrificing to make every dollar possible for a worthy cause, while still giving runners the best race possible.
Neither are most races the money makers I once thought they were. One of the largest and most popular marathons in Texas has just lost its primary sponsor; and its future is in jeopardy, while they seek a corporate sponsor who will commit at least $100,000 just to keep it in the black for another year. The Cowtown Marathon is subsidized by five corporate sponsors to the tune of $60,000 to $75,000 a year. This affects even smaller races as well. The City Manager of Forest Hill recently said that they would not sponsor the "Fun In The Forest" run this year, because they were losing about $53,000 ever time it ran. Is it possible that we are not paying our own way after all???
3. WE ARE INDEBTED TO THE VOLUNTEERS. How many and varied they are! When you complain about having to get to a race at 8 A.M., don't forget those who were marking the course at 2 0 'clock that morning or those who will be cleaning up hours after you have finished and gone home. Be mindful of the endless hours donated by those contacting potential sponsors, processing registration or staffing water tables. It is amazing how we can take for granted (or even be unkind to) those who are giving so much.
4. WE OWE THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE. What would running be today without them? I stand amazed at the contribution that those like Robert Coffey, Jim Gilliland, Lukes Locker, Marty Leioht and Michael Polansky have made to running for so many years. What about Ricky Cox, John Stayton, Mike Kagan and Bud Tomlinson? These, and many others, have fought a never-ending battle to expand age groups, to improve awards, to have attractive shirts and correctly measured courses. Almost every runner's club in the area has started from nothing through the vision and sacrifice of specific people who worked untiringly to make them what they are; and they are maintained even now by countless hours of those devoted to our sport. These could hope for no better reward than to know that we really appreciate what they have done and are doing.
Are you a runner? Then you are like a turtle on a fencepost. YOU DIDN'T GET THERE BY YOURSELF! You are indebted to people that you don't even know. They have given you an opportunity to participate in a great sport that brings us joy.
Pause for a moment and be grateful. Then think of something that you can do to make our sport better, both for other runners and for those who follow after. Then, of course, remember to express your appreciation to those who have helped you personally along the way. This might help other turtles to climb their own fenceposts!