I am an athlete.

A few days before the Run Rabbit Run 50 miler, I called my brother Dick in Albuquerque.

We laughed about how I have this personal affirmation that I mutter to myself as I run, “I am an athlete”. I mean we laughed and laughed—a sort of goofy holler that a few of us Hensleigh sibs got from PW Hensleigh.

Anyway it is funny because there is not a one of us Winchester Kansas Hensleighs that you ever think of as an athlete. Personally I never scored a basket even though I loved basketball and followed it avidly. I never made a tackle or caught a pass even though I was on the field a fair bit. I never scored  point at a track meet or even ran on a relay. We had a decent track team and an excellent coach but it did not effect my performance.

My other bros and sisters were about the same–known more for music and achievement tests than athletic ability or performance.

Regardless, for me to understand that I was created to move and perform as an athlete is not just true, it really helps when I face one of those 12 mile days with 95 degree weather. And it has helped me immensely to get a vision for my Best Third Third as a fit and active old guy.

You see to run that 50 miles, I had to have the qualities of an athlete–training, finishing, using my strengths, joy.

I thank Bishop Gwin at Love Corner for pointing out from the Bible that we are athletes, and for the Younger Next Year guys for writing a simple inspirational guide that I use every day.