I wrote last week about my son Mark winning the US National Championship for TowerRunning. I did not write about what happened (or did not happen) afterward. I left that to Mark, who wrote his account of the race on FaceBook a few days ago. Here is the relevant section:

[Winning the US National Championship] has been a goal for me since 2019. From early 2020 through late 2022, my fitness (and commitment) weren’t there. However, I’ve really been pushing hard the last several months, and have been writing it out with my goals: “I am the US National Champion.” Still, this wasn’t at all how I wanted to win it. God gave me a victory that only He can be credited with, and a nice little humility lesson on the side. My official time of 8:42, while actually the best I’ve ever done at this race, was fully 32 seconds slower than any US Champion has run it (that I know of). While it’s not uncommon for an international elite athlete to actually win the race, the US winners are typically under eight minutes. The slowest prior winner, who ran an 8:10, at least actually won the race.

To further ensure my ego was not excessively inflated, my parents and KC waited half the day for the awards ceremony, at which I received zero awards or recognition for being the TowerRunning USA Champion. The race organizers also failed to properly at least give me what would have been my third age group winner award, and there was no mention whatsoever of the US championship. TowerRunning USA also normally hands out awards for the prior year – that was not happening this year, for some reason, though I was casually informed that I’d finished first on that list as well.

How am I supposed to fill this trophy-shaped hole in my heart if I don’t get a trophy? – from Mark Ewell’s FaceBook post, reflecting on the lack of recognition

Mark started and ended his post with a riddle: What do you call the guy who finishes last in his class at medical school? Answer: “Doctor.”

What do you call the first American finisher of the TowerRunning USA Championship race? [Regardless of the time compared to races in years past or the lack of a trophy.] Answer: “US National Champion.” And he adds: “Grateful and humble.”

We’re still proud of Mark’s race and proud of the way he handled the aftermath.

And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not (Jeremiah 45.5, KJV)