Salty

It shows up as a fine, yet crusty layer on my skin...salt. It usually happens after a long run in the heat. The salt is the result of all of my body being under stress. The stress of heat, my heart pumping hard to try to cool off my organs, and sweat forming on my skin as a cooling device. When the sweat comes to the surface it brings with it salt, the by-product of my body being under stress.

I run races, two types: those that involve actual running and the other one described in Hebrews 12:1. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
 

Both types, hopefully, produce salt, it's a sign of health.
Mark 9:49 says 'everyone will be tested by fire.' Running can often feel like being tested by fire.

Matthew 5:11 ...blessed are those who are persecuted...

Each of us goes through other types of testing by 'fire.' It's the fire of broken relationships or harsh words in the workplace or even someone speaking and spreading mistruths about you.

Colossians 4:6 ...'let your words be gracious....

In the middle of the trial, we are to be salt, something that everyone needs, something that makes bland food taste good…

For the Christ-follower, salt is the bi-product of knowing and walking through life with God.

As long as my physical body allows I will run races.

But until my life comes to an end I will be running the race with Christ.
 

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:12-14