Runner? or Spectator?

This week's reading from Hebrews
paints a vivid picture...I have been a runner and felt the support of enthusiastic encouragers. I have also been in the crowd of spectators...the witnesses.

When my children ran cross country, it was a precious privilege (and, indeed a parental responsibility) to be in the cloud of witnesses at the tournaments.

The course for the runners was often winding, turning and looping back upon itself. Spectators (parents, relatives, coaches, etc.) positioned themselves at various open places where the runners would break out of the woods, take a turn around a field and then drop back onto the forested trail. Those mid course venues were places for cheers of encouragement, or quick quips of counsel. Sometimes the coach or mentor would even run alongside a runner who was slacking or faltering.... "keep it up!" "pace yourself" "looking good" "atta girl/boy"

The home stretch was often a straightaway... a place for the ultimate push. The volume of runners was a trickle (compared to the start where the teams were clumped together)... but the spectators were huddle on the sidelines and just beyond the finish line ... and many of them waited until the last runner crossed "finish"...and many of them generated a cheer for the last one that was as boisterous as the one offered to the "winner" of the race.

There was an outburst of joy! ... a moment when the spectators surrounded the runner (who might be deemed the "loser" according to statistics) with lavish welcome.

You have run the race...you persevered...we've been with you all along and we now enfold you into "us" as we gather at the finish line.
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Where are you in the picture? Are you one of the runners? If so, who are some of the witnesses encouraging you? Or are you a spectator... who would benefit from a supportive cheer?