"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." Emil Zatopek, winner of four Olympic gold medals
As many of you know, I am training for a marathon. This will be my 3rd marathon.
- Chicago Marathon-10-10-10. 3:40:02 Ran for for Leukemia Lymphoma and qualified for Boston.
- Boston Marathon 4-18-2011. 3:39:44
The Marathon makes you feel like a Stallion. Powerful, strong and tough! It is the Race of all races, the Grandfather of distance. The "arrival" as a runner. This is ALL ONLY my perception!! And I am not working with a full deck..Just saying. There is no where this is written as truth.
The Marathon has been around since 490 BC. The Modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier "Pheidippides" from a battlefield town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens where upon arrival of his message he was delivering collapsed and DIED!
The Message simply said "NIKI" which means VICTORY...."NIKI" is also know to many as NIKE!!
The apostle Paul gives many illustrations about "Running the Race" He talks about it often because the people in Greece could relate to the familiar games.
- "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).
- "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."(Hebrews 12:1-2)
MARATHON HUMOR
The Marathon is ALWAYS 26.2 mile. I loved when I got done running or am training and someone always asks:"So Nita, how far is a marathon?" or "So, did you Win?"
Or one of my favorites "Is the Chicago Marathon as long as the Boston Marathon?"
I ACTUALLY even had someone ask "So how far is a Half?!
Many of you training for a marathon have heard these, ALL of these and can say "Yup, I have even heard these a few times!"
WHY RUN THE MADNESS of THE MARATHON:
Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic marathon gold medalist: "You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming."
Bill Rodgers, winner of 4 Boston and four NYC marathons. "The marathon can humble you."
I push myself to the limits of the marathon for the same reason only more emotional. I do it because I believe God uses me in my weakness. "When I am weak He is Strong." I desperately seek his strength, his stamina, His endurance in my running...And that is where it collides with my life also. I break myself soo down that only GOD himself can carry me. Running to the level of pain and endurance of a marathon reminds me to humbly SEEK God. In order for me to ask him for Anything I have to come with a clean heart...It is here...HE searches me, It is HERE I purge, I release, I repent and Ask HIM to do a work in me.*******************************************************************************
Soo Here is YOUR CHANCE:
ARE YOUR THINKING ABOUT RUNNING A MARATHON?
GIVE ME YOUR QUESTIONS...
For those WHO HAVE RAN AND DO RUN THE Marathon...Why DO YOU RUN it???
What Compels YOU to put your Body their such Stress and discipline???
Tomorrow I will answer some questions and give some Tips and Ideas for those considering Tackling the Madness of the Marathon!
I hear you on it not being your favorite distance. It is not mine either. I remember finishing Martian last year and hurting so bad, that I didn't think I ever wanted to PR at the marathon again. I think it is something sort of like childbirth, you forget about that pain and still have another child. Boston will be marathon 4 for me. I did stop at 2 kids, though :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I have always wanted to run the martian, I enjoy running the Marathon because there is very few experiences like it...The Martian for example everyone talks about how cool this race it. They have to make it cool..the training for these distances is grueling. You are so right on about the child bearing thing!! I stopped after 2 also...Giving birth was way EASIER...!! SOO funny!!
DeleteGreat Blog! I just ran my first marathon last Sunday. It was pretty amazing. I'm already dreaming of the next one. I also had knee surgeries (3 of them) and 3 children and Thyroid cancer.....Luckily, I think those other things were more painful. My first marathon was an awesome experience and I did better than I thought I would too. Thanks for posting this on the I love to run page :) I'll be back!! Tammy
ReplyDeleteYou are too Kind Tammy..Thank you. WOW..You have a crazy story. It is stories like YOUR that give NO one Room For EXCUSES!! You sound like One Tough Cookie! I Love to hear stories like yours, So encouraging!! Thanks FOR Posting!!
DeleteAnita, I am SO weak mentally so that's probably my biggest motivator - and my biggest hurdle in running a marathon! I want to build mental stamina but I am terrified my mind will be weak on the "big day". What do you do when your mind is working against you? What should I know for training? What are your favorite shoes, gear, etc? Do you run with music? I've heard some say it's a bad idea. What are some good foods & do you eat before or after a run (or both)? Anything you can share will be helpful to this rookie!! ;)
ReplyDelete-Jess
Jessica..I will Answer Everyone of these questions and open it up for others to answer also!! Mixed opinions!
DeleteWHERE ARE YOU AT RUNNING RIGHT NOW??
Whats your longest distance?
How many miles do you run in a week?
Have you ever ran a Race? If so what distance?
We will start with some base info!!
Anita
Right now I've been either running the treadmill at my house (which I now understand why you call it the "dreadmill", lol) and I run outside too, usually just the paths around my house or in downtown somewhere. I've been averaging about 3-4 miles right now. My longest distance so far has been 5 miles. I've been trying to run about 10-15 miles a week. The only race I have ever done was the 5K with Glitz.
DeleteHE is made strong in my weakness...the only thing that's gonna get this novice to the finish line in October. Love to read Marathon posts -especially yours. Thanks!
ReplyDelete