The 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team was the definition of “insurmountable odds.”

All the players were amateurs, and most of them were from two rival colleges. The heat from the rivalry bubbled within the US team.

A pivotal moment occurred after a poor effort in an exhibition match against Norway. Herb Brooks, the head coach, made the players skate suicide (full-speed) sprints over and over, to the point of nausea.

Brooks did not relent until the players realized they were not just playing a game; they were representing America.

In what is considered the greatest upset ever, the US defeated the Soviet Union, whom practically everyone picked to win the gold medal, before finishing off Finland to culminate the “Miracle on Ice.” They sowed in tears and reaped in joy.

Paul sprinkled sports metaphors throughout his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 9, he indicated that athletes need to discipline their bodies, as do Christians. The difference is that the former strive for a perishable crown, while the latter strives for an unperishable crown.

Let us, with God’s help, keeping running the race until we cross the finish line together.