Post Marathon report
This blog isn’t at all what I expected to write. I thought I’d be raving on about “wow, what an amazing day”, “I feel so proud”, “I’m on a high”, “one of the top 10 days of my life”, “I’m a changed person” but no, dear reader, none of that.
The facts: – I did finish in 5 hours and 17 minutes, hampered by my dodgy leg and the big interruptions to my training. It was incredibly tough but I was determined to finish. I am now very sore and look forward to the day when I no longer have to go downstairs sideways and whimpering!
The emotions: - This is the bit I find more interesting and frankly surprising. I didn’t enjoy the day despite my best intentions. I tried to, I smiled a lot, I waved at the crowd, I jiggled to the bands. But ultimately it was all too hard, too painful (due to the dodgy leg which kicked in at only 3 miles) and in the end just a huge relief to get over the line.
I also don’t feel it was an “amazing achievement” as so many lovely supportive friends & family have said to me. Instead I saw some really, truly amazing achievers around me – the blind guy running and the guy who was assisting him, the Autistic guy, the clearly very old chap, the man carrying a fridge, the many people recovering from major illness or surgery ... the list goes on. I was just a regular person giving it a go and I now firmly believe that anyone could do it. When I entered the marathon way back in June, it felt like a huge goal – thrilling, massive, a vast mountain before me. Now it feels really rather small. Anyone can do it, you simply have to train and do the small steps in between.
I also saw some incredibly moving sights – it was the personal stories on the running vests that struck me. People running in memory of loved ones, children who never had a chance to grow up, sick children, disabled children .. again the list goes on. In comparison I was there on a whim, always fancied doing it and ultimately it was all about me and a personal challenge. There wasn’t the higher calling that so many had.
Yes I was running for a disabled children’s charity and raised over £3,000 but even that doesn’t feel something to be proud of – it was all down to my lovely generous friends and family. And if I’m honest I approached the charity because I’d missed the ballot and it was the only way to get a place so I feel a bit of a fraud.
And then I spoke to my coach - a wonderful Tiger Eagles coach (everyone should get one, they really are rather marvellous!). He helped me sort through my mixed emotions, find out what was really true, what was going on underneath the exhaustion and sore legs. And he helped me see that achieving the marathon feels small because in the last 10 months since I entered it, my bar has been raised. A goal that once seemed huge no longer is. It’s just small and, for me personally, not really that important. And why is that?
I’ve recognised, truly, how ANYONE can achieve WHATEVER they want to. It’s all about actually setting the goal, stepping into the dream, taking the first step on the journey to get there, keeping the end goal and bigger picture in sight and overcoming hurdles along the way.
Lance Armstrong once said “pain is temporary, quitting is forever” ... I used this in my mind when I struggled in the marathon but equally it applies to life in general. Never give up on your goals and you will be able to achieve them.
What else have I learnt?
That what’s more important to me is the fact that 3 others have already told me that my efforts, emails and updates have inspired them to enter the marathon. Others are mulling it over or thinking of entering shorter events. I so love that. I have no desire to do another marathon but I will be a truly fantastic supporter to those that set it as their own personal, thrilling goal.
How about you, dear reader? Fancy giving it a go? You can definitely do it. If you don’t have a medical reason not to then remember that humans are designed to run, it’s how we were made. We were also designed to run long distances to track animals. You may not feel you’re “a runner” but neither was I. You may not feel you have the time but neither did I. You may think it’s too big, scary, thrilling but that’s what makes it the perfect goal for you. The London ballot takes place 4th May – why not put in an entry and let fate decide? After that ANY goal in your life will be possible.
In the meantime my personal homework is to think about “What’s next for me now that my bar has been raised?”. I’ll let you know when I come up with the answer ...
Sue X
