It was the fastest quarter mile ever run in the history of women’s track.
And it happened that very first Resurrection morning.
Just tenths-of-a-second over 00:45 it still stands. Had Sports Illustrated been published then they’d have made a front cover. Theirs was a miracle, a true-life made-for-TV triumph long, long “before science invaded every nook and cranny of athletics, before there were computerized training programs and peak-performance diets.”
And no coach ever uttered more motivating – or briefer – words before the big event; before the stadium was entered; before stepping onto the track.
In what just takes seconds to say, starting blocks were made unnecessary, stretching and pre-race hydrating superfluous, sports psychology immaterial.
That early morning time-slot pre-start speech was to become the greatest understatement.
Ever.
“Go quickly and tell.”
Mary gathered her skirts about as her sandaled-feet became a blur of motion, a red-cloud of Palestinian dust billowing behind as she, with “the other Mary” – a close second – flew down the path from the empty tomb to where the huddled and fearful disciples were gathered a half-mile away.
They never made it.
Someone called out their names.
It was a voice they recognized.
The skid-marks from the furrows dug by the women’s sandals would still be visible today but for the countless pilgrimages to the scene of the greatest event – and most astounding truth – in human history.
“He is not here. He is risen. As he said.”
Thank you for a ‘word picture’ of a scene still alive, two thousand years later.