Podcast Episode 111 Show Notes- Welcome To The Race!

(Listen to the full episode here)

ECL Episode Ep-11 Welcome To The Race ( Transcript)

Welcome to the Eternal Crown Lifestyle podcasts I’m really glad you have joined me today, because it’s race day at ECL. It’s a nice day outside with some light cloud cover and a gentle breeze. Today is the running of the Eternal Crown 365 marathon and I’m going to be your race commentator. The race will be 365 miles, across multiple different terrains, with many twists and turns across the course. Our runners will need to be well balanced and prepared if they are going to succeed. If they have been properly training then it should not be a problem for them to handle. Todays race has 5 runners competing for the greatest prize in history that is waiting for them at the finish line, of course I’m talking about the the Eternal Crown! This is what everyone wants to hold in their hands and this is what all the hard work has been for. Ok, thats’ enough about the race, let’s meet our 5 runners and learn a little about therm.

Runner number one is a sloth that appears to be severely overweight and it does not look as though he has have put any real effort into training for this event at all. When asked about his preparation work, he said “I have been staying up late every night to watch TV and just showed up today, because it’s not like I have any real chance of winning this thing.’’ He also admitted to eating fast food daily and consuming lots of candy. Things are really not set up in runner number ones favor and if that’s not bad enough he has also shown up to run the race wearing his jeans and boots. Now I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I’m not very optimistic on the chances he has in this one. 

Let’s move on to runner number two in this race. Runner number two is a fox that has obviously be training hard in preparation for this race. He says he has been running consistently and follows a very balanced nutrition routine. It’s nice to see he has gone with traditional running shoes and a great pair of runners shorts for this race. I’m not really sure why he has one a helmet and his what appears to re a razor soccer with him today though. Maybe it is just apart of his style and a way for him to make a statement. 

Runner number 3 is a female squirrel and she is looking fast a very ready for this race. You can see the hard work that has gone into preparing and the look of determination is all over her face. When asked about her chances in this race she said “I really believe I’m going to win this race! I’m determined and I will not….(she appears to have stopped mid sentence and is watching a butterfly go by)…oh I’m sorry “ I will not let anyone beat me!” Well I really like the confidence and attitude, but she does seem a little preoccupied hopefully she will get it together and focus on the race ahead.

Next we have the snake wearing the number 4 runners bib. He is looking very fast and really determined. When I asked him to line up for on the star for the interview I noticed he didn’t want to come. I had to chase him down to find out how he was feeling about his chances. When I did finally catch up with him, he said that he had been preparing for this race very hard and was going to do whatever it took to get to the finish line first. I love to win and I will not lose this one. Everyone is looking for me to bring home the victory and I’m not going to let them down. He clearly has his eyes on the prize and is determined to claim the win today. It does sound like he is feeling a lot of outside pressure to win and I really hope that will not compromise his chances of succeeding.

Finally our last runner sporting the number 5 is the dog. He is looking really fit and in great shape for this event. I believe he has been preparing with a very balanced approach to his overall health and it’s clear he has put in the effort necessary to succeed. The outfit he has chosen for this race appears to be very aerodynamic to help him eliminate unnecessary drag. When I asked him about the race he had this to say “ I know every inch of this course and have been studying how to pace myself to the end. I know exactly how many steps it will take me from start to finish and where I need to be on the course to run the best. I’m not concerned with all the other races that will be around me, I have just decided to stay focus on my own race and let them do what they are going to do. I know if I run my race, then nobody will be able to out perform me. That is all I want to do, just give it my best effort and stay consistent. 

Well that is the line up for todays great event. Many different styles of runners out there today and each one appears to be brining their own unique approach to the race. If you were going to pick a winner, who would you put your confidence in and why? Each one of these runners has strengths and weakness, but only one will have the right combination to achieve the victory. I know who I see as the front runner of this one, but I’ll keep that to myself until after the race has been completed. Alright enough with the runner intros, it’s time to get to the main event.

All of the runners have lined up at the starting line, except for the mrs squirrel who appears to be looking at the clouds in the sky. Ok, they got her attention and she has joined her fellow runners at the starting line. The starter has raised the start pistol and is counting them down to the start. On your marks, get set, go! Bang the gun is fired and the runners are off! Well no surprise here that number 3 the squirrel is off to a very fast start and is looking great. Also probably not much of a shock, but number 1 the sloth has barely moved from the start line and is not looking good. The other runners all appear to be doing a good job, but I am really surprised at what I’m seeing from number 2 the fox. He is indeed riding the scooter and also appears to have something unusual in his hands as well. I’ll have to keep an eye on that and get back to you with what is going on there. 

This race has gotten off to a really solid start, but we do have a sad development already. Runner number 1 has decided to drop out of the race. He did not look comfortable from the start and was having a very hard time breathing. The choice of attire certainly did not help him either and it looks like he was set up to fail from the very start. We are now down to 4 runners in this race. I’m noticing that all though number 5 the dog is not leading, he appears to have a very good pace developing. He is not focusing on the other runners and has been running very consistently and smooth. Clearly he had a strategy going into this one and is sticking to the plan. The number 4 runner the snake is also doing really good and he is just a little was behind our leader the squirrel who is been running at a blistering pace. I’m honestly not sure if anyone is going to be able to beat her today. 

We have now reached that half way point in this race and it has been a really competitive one so far. We have number 3 the squirrel still leading with the snake right on her heels. In the middle and still running very consistently is the dog, but the biggest shock for me is that number 2 the fox appears to be in the last place and is just fooling around on the scooter. Now he appears to be picking up the speed and has pulled out what appears to be a water gun. I’m not sure what this is all about, but he is gaining on the other runners fast. He has just caught up to the dog and is shooting at him with the water. Wow! That is not very sportsman like now is it. He is now catching up to our front runners the snake and the squirrel. He did it again he shot the snake with the water gun and is now going after our leader the squirrel. This is not right and should not be accepted at all. This is just now how you are supposed to handle yourself when you compete, he is showing no respect to our other runners. Wait! What is going on? I see race officials stepping in to intervene and yes they have decide to remove the fox from the race. He has been disqualified for his illegal use of the scooter and also for unsportsmanlike conduct. I believe this is absolutely the right decision by our race officials.

We’ll everyone we have really been having an outstanding race her today and we are getting very close to the end of this one now. We started the race with 5 competitors and now there are only 3 left on the track. We saw the sloth drop out very early and then came the elimination of the fox through disqualification. There has been a slight change in running order though and it appears the snake has fallen into last pace. It appears he just burned himself out a bit too much trying to keep up with the squirrel. That’s what can happen when you are trying to live up to the expectations of others. The dog has move up into the second place spot, continuing to run a text book race. His form has been on point and he has been able to avoid all the distractions of the other runners. Our leader still out in front that has been running away with this one from the start is the squirrel. She appears to be in control of this one, but I have noticed for the last few miles she has not been paying a s close attention to the run and has been looking around at the crowd a lot more. 

This one is clearly going to come down to a very close finish. I’m just not sure if the dog or snake have what it takes to over take the squirrel today. Oh no! What has just happened? The squirrel has lost her footing and has stumbled to the ground. This is awful! She appears to have lost focus looking at the ground and stubbled over a stone that was laying in the middle of the course. This could not have come at a worse time as she was clearly running away with this race a poised to win. It looks like she will not be able to get up and continue on in this one anymore. We are now down to our final two runners the dog and the snake, who will be able to pull out the victory in this one? I just don’t think the snake has what it takes to catch up in time to pass the dog. There is only one more major turn on this track and then it is a straight line to the finish line. I don’t see how the dog could possibly loose this one at this point. 

Now rounding the final turn the dog can see the finish line and is heading towards the victory. Only a few more miles left to go and he seems to be calm and very in control of this one. What? Where did he come from? The snake has just appeared in front of dog, seemingly out of nowhere. I’m not sure how this is even possible! Now the snake only has a few miles left and has a slight lead on the dog. It’s coming down to a photo finish, but yes it does look like the snake has crossed the line first. Oh wow what an upset! The dog follows closely behind in second and seems confused as to what has occurred. The crowd is going crazy and has begun to join in the celebration with the snake as our winner. I see the dog approaching the snake, uh oh everyone this could get ugly. He approaches the snake and what is he going to do. He puts out his hand and shakes the snakes hand. He appears to be congratulating him on his victory. Wow! What a show of charter and class I thought for sure his anger was about to show up and we were going to see a fight.

Well that was a great race to witness wasn’t it folks. Really came down to the very end, but we now know our winner is the snake. Although I do see some commotion going on over in the winner circle right now. I can’t tell exactly what is taking place yet. It looks like the race officials are discussing something with the snake. I’m not sure what is being said yet though. Oh my what a turn of events we have! The race officials have just announced that the snake has been disqualified! Apparently at the last turn of the race he ignore the course signs and went off the track. He proceeds straight by taking a short cut through the woods and that is how he appeared in front at the very end. Wow what a deceitful move that was. He did tell us in the beginning he was willing to do whatever it took to win. Now we know that includes trying to cheat to get an advantage, what a shame!

The good news is that this new development means our winner is the dog! He has been moved up and rewarded with the victory. This is a well deserved victory as he clearly showed to most poise and control through out this whole race. He has just been awarded the prize of the Eternal Crown and had this to say about his key to coming out on top. “ I just came into this race well prepared and focused on what I had to do to win. I made the decision to treat all the other runners with respect , but I didn’t allow myself to get focused on what they were doing. I stayed consistent throughout the entire race and watched out for obstacles on the track. I knew I had a really good shot at winning and even when I thought I had come in second I did not allow anger to over take me. I stayed true to who I am and what I stand for and that is why I came out on top today!

Well I know that podcast episode was a little bit different, but hopefully you enjoyed it. If you have not figured it out yet, that race was a metaphor for life. The 5 different runners represent 5 different kinds of people in this world. Number 1 is the one who is totally unprepared and has no real plan. They don’t take care of their physical, mental or spiritual health and really are set up for failure. It’s no surprise that this person quit early and did not even finish the race.  Number 2 is the person who does not follow the rules and also treats others with sever disrespect. There is just no place for this kind of behavior, we must treat others the way we would also want to be treated. Number 3 is the one that seems to have it all together and appears to be winning at life most of the time. They are successful from others view points, but the problem is they get focused on the wrong things. These wrong things become distractions that have the ability to trip them up at any point in life. These wrong focuses can be chasing after money, fame, sex, or any of the other things that really will not truly satisfy us. The number 4 runner reflects the ones that want to succeed at all costs. Usually these people have a huge weight on their shoulders, because everyone expects them to so good. The are willing to cheat to get ahead, because they just can’t stand to look bad. They care far too much what other people think of them. The result of this is in the end they end up paying a huge price. They might end up in legal troubles or simply just compromise their character and morals to get what they want.

Lastly we have runner number 5 who is the one who ultimately gets the Eternal Crown. They are balanced in their life and have developed strong mental, physical, and spiritual health. They set clear goals for their lives and develop real plans to reach those goals successfully. They are able to avoid distractions and keep their focus on what is most important. They treat others with great respect and are not constantly comparing themselves to others around them who are running different races. Also when things don’t appear to go well for them they stay calm and do not resort to anger or fighting. Because they are focused on the right things in life ( not money, fame, or sex) they are able to maintain great peace in all circumstances. The result of someone living this kind of life marked with these characteristics, is they end up winning! Their life is one that can truly be considered a success and they will ultimately acquire the Eternal Crown! They are unbreakable, what they stand for is unshakable and the impact they make is untakable! They are truly living the Eternal Crown Lifestyle!

So my question to you is which runner represents you? Which one does your life currently line up the most with? If it’s not number 5, then what aspects of your life do you need to change to be more like number 5 and how can you improve? If you will evaluate each of these other 4 runners closely you can find the limiting factors that could be holding you back from your life goals and then begin to develop a plan to transform your life. Ultimately you want to go through life like number 5, because that is the most rewarding and fulfilling way to live. With where you are right now in your race will you be the one holding the Eternal Crown at the end?