2319: Showing-up

Here we go.

Last week felt full in the best way. Easter weekend gave me the chance to experience something new with the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, while also turning it into a quick trip to spend time with a close friend and his family. The next morning, I lined up for the largest 10K I’ve ever run with one simple goal in mind: run as hard as I could from start to finish. One of the coolest parts about this race is the added layer of incentive. Only the top 500 male and female finishers receive that year’s Crescent City Classic poster, designed by a local artist. It’s a small detail, but it carries weight. It turns effort into something you can hold onto.

I finished 640th out of 17,892 runners with a time of 45:43, averaging a 7:21 pace, and placed 574 in my age group, just 74 spots shy of that top 500 cutoff. And honestly, I’m proud. Because I didn’t leave anything out there. There was no second-guessing and no pacing regrets. I showed up, trusted my training, and ran my race. The result wasn’t perfect, but the effort was real, and sometimes that’s the win. After crossing the finish line, the energy shifted completely. City Park opened up into a full celebration with food, music, and people everywhere. It felt like the city wrapped its arms around every runner and said, “You did it.” We were taken care of in every sense.

After a quick reset, I headed back to Jackson and spent the rest of the day slowing things down with family. Then Easter Sunday came, and something hit me. For the first time in nearly two or three years, all of my siblings and parents were together for Easter. It’s one of those things you don’t fully realize you’ve missed until it’s right in front of you again. Growing up, Easter was always about gathering with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all in one place. It felt like a smaller, quicker version of Thanksgiving. Not as long, but just as meaningful. Now that I’m older, I’m starting to see it differently. My siblings, my cousins, and I are the next group up. We are the ones who will carry these traditions forward and make sure these moments do not fade as life gets busier and more spread out.

And I think that’s what I’m taking away from this week. Not every goal will be hit exactly when you want it, whether that’s chasing a top 500 finish or trying to hold onto time that feels like it’s moving too fast. But showing up fully, on the course and at the table, is what actually makes it count.

Peace,

Zechariah Davis

🎵 Song of the Week

Uptown - Mikecol, Jazz Bounce

🗣 Quote of the Week

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” ― Tim Duncan

📖 Scripture of the Week

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