I think " run the race" is an analogy of striving. You know don't give up. It seems to me you aren't running the race, you just decided to stop
1 Corinthians 3:8-15King James Version (KJV)
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
I put in bold some important points. Notice that all of this has to do with rewards? Yet, consider, even in verse 15 the person without works is still saved, "yet so as by fire." This is the security we have.
Its like in James that it says faith without works is dead. In other words, faith without works is useless. However, what is faith without works useless for? Rewards. At the Bema seat of Christ, your faith is unprofitable in and of itself to get you any rewards, but your works are the determining factor of what you'll get. Just as a body without a spirit is useless, so is faith without works useless. However, and notice, that there is still a body (without a spirit) and there is still faith (without works). It is just talking about the profit, what benefit is it to have faith without works? In regards to the Bema seat of Christ, not at all because works is the factor by which your rewards are determined.