Becoming a Big 10 student-athlete was a boyhood dream that came true during the fall of 1992 as I stepped on the historic Indiana University campus. I was officially a member of the Cross Country and Track teams and a pupil of a track and field legend. I had prepared for the upcoming season like I had the four previous years…hours of distance and hill training. But after a few short days of practice I realized I had woefully prepared for the most intense training my body would ever experience. Being a competitor, I was not going to let anyone beat me. I would do anything I could to regain my competitive edge. I woke up early to run extra miles, stayed after practice to complete extra drills, worked extra hard in the weight room, studied times and splits religiously and made sure my diet was perfect. After a month of this regiment my body sent me a message…STOP! I can’t keep up!

While I had made up the difference with my teammates, I did it at a cost to my body. A nagging injury and fatigue sidelined me for a week of an already short season. I was crushed, disheartened and disappointed. After a week of physical therapy and a light schedule I felt good again. “Why did this happen?” I wondered. “Why did I burn out?” Being a fanatic about details, I looked back over my workout summaries and saw three distinct reasons.

I was afraid to fail. Up until that point, I had rarely not been able to keep up with my teammates or competitors. I would and did anything to win. Why? Because I was afraid of loosing. How many of us find ourselves in similar situations at work, at home or with our friends. We don’t like coming in second, getting beat or upstaged. Vince Lombardi, the great Packers coach said, “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” Unfortunately, we take this to the extreme and many times compromise our time, commitments and values all for the sake of the win. That is why I am encouraged by the 23 Psalm. vs. 4 “I should nothing. For God is with me.” A heavenly perspective should changes our outlook on fear.

My priorities were out of line. When we get caught up in the race of life, it is so easy to allow our priorities to slip. This rarely occurs with an event or at a moment…it happens slowly over time. We make small incremental changes daily that eventually land us in an unknown place. Matthew alluded to this as he wrote chapter 7 verses 13-14. “Wide is the path to destruction, but narrow is the path that lead to life.” It happens ever so subtlety. Over a six week period I had been spending eight to nine hours day training and doing nothing else. That was more than I could physically handle. We must be vigilant, even dogmatic about our priorities. As soon as we compromise, we open the door to burnout.

I needed a fresh breath. Running a long distance race requires tremendous endurance and a great set of lungs. I have never competed in a race that when finished, I could breathe at a normal rate. It takes time to “catch your breath.” You can’t rush it. You can condition your body to handle more, but there will always be a limit. When that limit hits, you must take a breath…a deep breath or you will soon find yourself not finishing second, but possibly not finishing at all. That would be the greatest defeat of all. Jesus knew he needed to catch his breath and made a regular habit of it. His race was tough and he was well aware that burnout was not an option on his path to the cross. (Matt 14:13; Matt 14:23; Matt 15:21; Mark 1:35; Mark 3:7; Luke 22:41)

Paul compares life to a long distance race (I Cor 9:24-27). It is not a sprint, but a long journey that requires us to discipline ourselves and stay fresh. It is so easy to let fear, misplaced priorities and exhaustion lead you down the path to burnout. Instead, make wise choices about your time, your priorities, your focus and your rest. Stay in the race. From what I read, the finish line is great!

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