What have St Paul and an Olympic Marathon Champion got in Common?

Firstly,they both had a Passion to win something great;Secondly, they had a Race to run, and Thirdly,after completing that Race,despite all its great trials and pain,they finally were awarded the Prize.

See also the runner in this clip who did not compete according to the rules: he's taken away by the police- he didn't train and didn't properly complete the race!

I do accept that the verses in Hebrews may be not Paul's : but surely they share his sentiments.AK

The Passion
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Race
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The Prize
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

The Challenge to us is to have the same passion,enter the same race and win the same prize, encouraged by Paul who exhorts us : 'Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ'.