The Race We Are Running
Have you ever been so caught up in the race to get somewhere that you forgot to consider what it was costing you to get there?
I often use the phrase “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.”
However, it wasn’t until I sat down to write a chapter on it for my book, The ABCs of Wellness, that I began to fully unpack what those words really mean.
The more I reflected on the phrase, the more I realised that it goes beyond patience or the need to slow down. It challenges us to think about how we are living, what we are prioritising, and whether the pace at which we are pursuing our goals is sustainable over a lifetime.
After all, what is the point of running so hard to reach the finish line if, along the way, we lose the very things that make the journey worthwhile?
Long-distance runners understand the power of pacing.
They conserve their energy early, knowing that the race requires endurance. The goal is not simply to start strong, but to have enough left to finish well.
Yet, I have watched far too many people—myself included, in certain seasons—attempt to run a decades-long race with the urgency of a hundred-metre sprint.
We rush to achieve, acquire, and establish ourselves. We push through demanding seasons, take on more than we can comfortably manage, and convince ourselves that we will slow down when things settle.
There is always another goal to pursue, another responsibility to fulfil, and another milestone to reach.
But at what point do we pause to consider the pace at which we are living?
Numbering Our Days
I anchor this reflection in the words of Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
There is something profound about this prayer. It reminds us that our time on earth is limited and that recognising this should influence how we live.
Yet, so many of us live as though death were a distant abstraction rather than the inevitable end of our earthly journey.
We plan for the future, make long-term commitments, and pursue our ambitions—often without considering how much time we have or what our choices might cost us along the way.
We assume there will always be time to rest, reconnect with loved ones, pay attention to our health, and enjoy the things we have worked so hard to build. Too often, people retire and spend their last few years treating a lifestyle induced health condition.
Numbering our days is not about knowing the exact timeline of our lives, but our human history offers us some cues.
A healthy person may live to 75 years or beyond, with many years of good mental and physical health. This means that if you are in your 30s or 40s, you may have another 30–40 years of wholesome living ahead of you.
If you have young children, consider this: within the next 10 years, they may have left home to begin their own lives.
When you truly consider this reality of limited time, you may eat better, pray longer, forgive more, invest more, express yourself and your faith more freely, and restructure your life to be intentionally present with your children and loved ones, consistently.
Life’s journey is more like a marathon than a sprint.
You will need to learn to look beyond what you want to accomplish and consider the kind of life you want to experience. This is what signing up for a coaching session with me is all about.
The Quality of the Journey
Have you considered the actual quality of your life in your sixties and seventies, or are you only focused on simply reaching them?
It is an important distinction.
We can become so consumed with building a successful future that we give little thought to what it will take to enjoy it. We focus on financial security, career progression, and the next big achievement, sometimes overlooking the physical, mental, and emotional resources we will need for the journey ahead.
What kind of life are your present choices preparing you for?
Will you have the health to enjoy your retirement, the relationships you have nurtured over the years, and the peace of mind to appreciate the freedom you have worked towards?
Of course, we cannot control every outcome. Life comes with uncertainties, and not everything can be planned because ultimately God is sovereign over our lives. This is where leaning on God’s grace amidst choices is paramount . However, we can be more intentional about how we spend our time, where we direct our energy, and what we are willing to sacrifice.
Ambition is important. Hard work matters. Planning for the future is necessary. But perhaps we need to pay greater attention to the pace at which we pursue these things. It should not be at the expense of the life of wellness God intended for us.
If the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), have you structured your lifestyle and managed your relationships in ways that make you vulnerable to the ‘thief’ Jesus speaks of?
Learning to Pace Ourselves
A marathon runner knows that every stage of the race cannot be run at maximum speed. There must be discipline, awareness, and an understanding of when to push and when to conserve energy.
Life requires a similar approach.
Not every season demands the same intensity, and not every opportunity deserves a yes. Sometimes, wisdom means pushing forward. At other times, it means pausing long enough to ask whether the direction we are heading in still serves the life we want to build.
I am learning that the goal is not simply to accomplish as much as possible in the shortest time. It is to live purposefully, recognising that how we make the journey matters just as much as where we hope to arrive.
So, I return to the question: Am I sprinting a marathon?
Am I so focused on reaching the next milestone that I am neglecting the life I am living today?
Perhaps it is time to reflect on the pace of our lives, revisit our priorities, and remember the wisdom of that ancient prayer: “Teach us to number our days.”
After all, the goal is not merely to reach the finish line.
It is to finish well.
What changes do you need to make today to stop sprinting and start pacing yourself for the long run?
I explore this idea more deeply in a dedicated chapter of my latest book, The ABCs of Wellness Through Biblical Wisdom, where I reflect on what it truly means to approach life as a marathon rather than a sprint.
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