(This is going to be a brain dump blog a la Mark Zuckerberg as acted brilliantly by Jesse Eisenberg in Social Network except that this is about running)
Luckily for me on any race morning and today especially, I'm fortunate to see other fellow crazies and running enthusiasts out there in the hopes of the same thing. Finishing.
The thing about running that I find so fascinating is that there's the solo sport aspect of it, but also the amazing camaraderie and friendship that can easily be struck up because of that shared understanding of the pain and the glory. There's certainly a competitiveness in races, but at the end of the day, you're racing against a clock and not the other person next to you, in front of you, or behind you. The overall goal is to finish what you start and to enjoy the pounding of the pavement, the freshness of the air, the liberating freedom of cruising down a hill, and the overall commitment to a four word phrase... "I am a runner." You also pursue the thought of trying to be a better you. To non-runners who question this, it's a lifestyle, a commitment, and conversation builder. I'm crazy, I run, and I actually enjoy it. There should be no pre-disposed notions of running, like I'm too slow or everyone's judging because that's just not what's at stake. You run for you and you alone, but people come to celebrate it and cheer you on. Why do you think the big city marathons are such fascinating cheering events? It's a celebration and an achievement, but if you ask most runners, the actual race is only one small step of it. I love to talk about my training and most people that run marathons have told me that the race is just the epilogue and the ending on all the training and pursuit that you put in for the months leading up to it.
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| Jump for joy! |
So if you haven't run, or want motivation, just go out and run a little and walk a little, don't worry about how it looks. Everybody's that run before you has experienced it. You've gotta walk before you can run. Just keep at it, and try to go a little further the next time you go, and so on, and then it'll all be second nature. Also, don't worry about time... As one speaker said at a running seminar I went to (yes, they have those), whether you finish a marathon in 2 1/2 or 4 or 7 hours means nothing to someone who isn't running. All that matters is that you finished. My quarter, dime, and nickel thoughts there.
With that being said, I've met a lot of great people at these running races that I partake in and I'm lucky to have run fairly well. Today's Staten Island half was a great experience. Lots of water stops, pretty flat terrain, lots of fans cheering, and good vibe. Thanks to the island of Staten for helping me post a terrific half time and getting me to qualify for the NY marathon next year. I'm by no means an elite runner, but I'm quite happy with my time and just being able to finish the race with a smile on my face.
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