Marathon MOnday always proves a remarkable story. Boston 2018 was no different. Not only did the course oppose the runners but the weather also presented a formidable opponent. Near freezing temperatures, downpour, sometimes torrential, and significant headwinds combined in a perfect storm of suboptimal racing conditions, so suboptimal that 23 elites, men and women, did not finish.

At the end of the day, Desi Linden, my favorite female marathoner, ended the 33 year drought of American winners and Yuki Kawauchi, a full time school administrator and world record holder for fastest marathon in a suit, captured the victory in the men’s race. As the hours post-race elapsed, Desi’s already remarkable story became even more remarkable.

Desi’s personal mantra is “just show up.” She pulled out the mantra through the final miles of the race, long after she considered stepping off the course, not finishing. It is hard to fathom the fact that she almost became a statistic, one of the many with a DNF beside her name. Perhaps that decision early on in the race lifted a burden from her shoulders, freed her from the pressure of seeking the long sought for win as she entered the back half of her career.

Around mile six, Desi told Shalane Flanigan that she, Desi, planned to step off the course and if there was anything Shalane needed, Desi would help. This surprised Shalane, as she stated in interviews afterwards. Shalane and Desi compete for different elite teams. A few miles later, Shalane took Desi up on her offer. Since the pace was slow, for elites, Shalane took advantage of a portopotty to make a pit stop, incredibly unusual for an elite runner. Even more incredibly, Desi hung back and ran Shalane back to the pack, acting as a windblock. Once Desi finished, she moved farther up in the pack looking as if she planned to help Molly Huddle gain the W. For a large section of the middle of the race, Desi thought of nothing but helping others. In helping others, she put herself in a position she long desired.

Mile after mile, Desi told herself to just show up. Show up for one more mile. She kept telling herself this as she moved into third, eight seconds behind second place runner, Gladys Chesir, as Chesir reeled in a fading Mamitu Daska. Heartbreak Hill held no heartbreak for Desi this year. She grabbed the lead and made it hers, celebrating only when she made that famous turn onto Boylston.

At the end of the day, Desi showed up. She relinquished her own priorities and instead helped others. In helping others she helped herself. The thing she thought she gave up at the start became the thing she earned at the end.

Although all human analogies ultimately fail, in Desi’s marathon performance I see a perfect example of how I am called to live as a follower of Christ. God has not promised a life of ease. He promises adversity that will put us through the Refiner’s fire. I think of the weather in relation to this, weather that made Shalane so loopy that at one point she wondered if she was running the right race. When I think of Desi letting go of what she wanted and helping others instead, I think of God’s call on my life, the call to give up what I desire and take up His desire instead, to put others ahead of myself. When I think about Desi’s offer to help, I consider the idea that these offers come from a completely unselfish place. Desi wanted to help someone else succeed, not put herself in a more advantageous position. True unselfishness holds no taint of consideration of self-benefit.

Too often I choose to hold tight to my own plans and goals at the expense of others who get in my way. I focus on these goals and stress when something interferes. I’ve been there before; no one wins in this scenario.

Although things will not always work out the way they did for Desi Linden on Marathon Monday, the principle holds true.