There's a Prize(the song formerly known as RUN FOR THE PRIZE)

Most of the song lyrics I have penned over the years have not involved a lot of commitment as far as planning or actual time grappling with words. Generally, I get the idea and am done with the majority of the song in an hour or two. However, the following song is way outside the norm, seeing that the early stages of its conception took place over 20 years ago...

It all began during the 1985-86 school year, when our basketball coach, Jim Stephens, would motivate us before an off-season conditioning run by reading the passage from the Bible where Paul writes about Running for the Prize(I Corinthians 9:24). I can't say that that verse became my favorite verse, nor that it really motivated to run better, but it stuck in my heart apparently.
Fast forward to the summer of 1991. I was working at Camp Lone Star, and while jogging, with guitar in hand, to a site where I was supposed to lead an evening devotion, I "composed" the song Run For the Prize, which included a portion of the lyrics seen below. The message of the devotion went well. However, the song wasn't fully composed and I butchered it pretty mightily. Matt Chambers, who was part of the audience during that devotion, still gives me grief about that episode.
Fast forward to Summer 2007. I was trying to write some song lyrics for some kids who went to Camp Lone Star from our church. For some reason, RUN FOR THE PRIZE popped in my head, and I was able to expand on and improve the original lyrics. If nothing else, I figured the song would give Matt Chambers a good laugh. He is still at Camp Lone Star and would be certain to see these lyrics and remember the debacle of 1991.
Anyway, I have finally put together a melody for these lyrics and am planning to debut it Wednesday, March 5 for the confirmation class at church. Hopefully, I'll present the song a little more smoothly then I did 17 years ago.

There’s a Prize(The song formerly known as RUN FOR THE PRIZE)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

Left foot, right foot, left foot on

Run until your strength is gone

Left foot, right foot, left foot too

Run until your race is through(2x)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

Run for the prize as fast as you can

Run though at times you may not understand

With your eyes fixed firmly on

The King of kings press on(2x)

There’s a prize that is not perishing

There’s a prize that is everlasting

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race

There’s a prize that’s ours by the Father’s grace

A prize Christ claimed with a perfect race.