At our kids’ recent cross country meet, I was stationed in the middle of a hill about a quarter of a mile from the finish.  The hill’s location was unfortunate.  It was a tough course.  Every runner, regardless of pace, had to work hard to conquer it and each had his or her own unique look of determination laced with struggle – or struggle laced with determination, depending on how it was going. As I talked with a friend after the meet, he mentioned how amazed he was by the dedication of the runners who finish in the back of the pack, some of them week after week.  I thought about how we are quick to turn to the speediest finishers for inspiration and…