How did the runners in Paul's illustration train their bodies?
In Paul's illustration, the runners trained temperately in all their intake, including food and drink, doing everything temperately to enhance their body strength. They disciplined themselves to obtain a crown, a reward, though it was a perishable crown of leaves and vines.
Les explains that Paul returns to the runners and says they train temperately in all their intake, both food and drink, doing everything temperately to enhance their body strength. Their motive is to obtain a crown, a reward. But Paul contrasts this with the spiritual race: believers do not run for a crown of leaves and vines that will die and amount to nothing; they run for an incorruptible crown that will last for all eternity. Paul says he runs not uncertainly, not shadowboxing or beating the air, but he trains himself spiritually to run the race of life that he might win the prize. He keeps his body under control.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.