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Don't get me wrong. Nothing can take the place of the first
time fear of not knowing if you can do it, the excitement
of the start of the race and the jubilation of completing
your first marathon. But, my personal experience is that it
is sweeter the second time because you know....and you still
do it! You know....
You are giving up Saturday mornings and sometimes all day
(when it is particularly long or draining) for six months.
You will have bad runs when you feel like a failure because
today you can't keep up with the group. But you also know
its about learning about yourself and there is always more
to learn. You know that if you follow the plan, listen to
the advice, take care of yourself, feed on the enthusiasm
of the community that develops you will get to the start line.
You experience all of the excitement at the start with a greater
sense of wisdom and knowledge of running your own race. You
know better this year how important friends and family are
along the course and yes it is wonderful to have friends join
you and run for a while. I could have cried at mile 20 when
a friend joined in but I was conserving bodily fluids!
You know there will be demons in your head in the last few
miles, telling you negative things, pointing out the finishers
with their medals. But those demons will be silenced when
you cross the finish line and get a hug from a loved one and
believe them when they say they are proud of you because you
know you are proud of yourself because you knew what you were
doing and you are already planning next years race!
Coincidentally, the March edition of Inc. magazine had an
article following an entrepreneur's experience of training
for a marathon. There was a quote: "And let's face it:
athletically speaking, there is your marathoner, and then
there is everyone else"
WE KNOW!
ROO HUT
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