What Marathon are you running

Julia Becerra | November 5th 2017

As NYC prepares itself for the thousands of athletes amateur and professionals that would be running this year’s TCS #NYCMarathon, I asked myself what does it take to prepare for a Marathon? and could anyone run a marathon without the recommended training for it?

I researched articles on the subject and as I read them (i.e. https://www.runnersworld.com/marathon-training), I realized that a lot of us are already training for a Marathon or perhaps we are actually already  running one.  Just a different one: Life.  Every so often anyone takes a new decision, either towards a new goal or achievement. It could be a new job, it could be a wedding.  A vacation trip, A new child. A new career or an additional one, or just being more successful at what we are already doing,  you name it!

To achieve it, as well as to run a marathon, a plan needs to be developed.  The plan should include categories as 1- diet( meal planning),  2- support group, (training buddies), 3- logistics (where and how), and 4- commitment (how to stay committed and how to deal with occasional setbacks).

When to start executing the plan? That could be the first stone in the shoe that could jeopardize the training.  So set a date. Once it fully clicks that you are just at the beginning of your project,  the excitement may be replaced with fear. This emotion is normal and will hopefully wane!  But if he doesn’t happen soon enough.  You can help dissuade the fear  by doing two things:

1- Imagine the desired result.  Feel the emotion of the achievement.

2- Shrink the first task. Make it small enough so you can take it fearlessly.  If it is quitting smoking, you could start with  just only one less cigarette a day.  If it is going to the gym 4 times a week, just go once even if it just for half an hour.

Your first step could even be to review your plan and make sure it is real, achievable.  Do it and place your first check mark! (Chart your progress!).  Once you start, you may realize it is never as hard as you thought it would be.   Post your progress chart where you can see it.  (keep your motivation alive!)

And if after all that, you still feel  accomplishing your goal, or running your marathon is a tough thing to do, then just look back at everything you have accomplished so far in your life. (Build in your successes!).Look at today,  think of all that you are already doing!  Perhaps joggling school and work.  Perhaps handling many projects at work or/and at home.  Perhaps hunting many avenues looking for that desired position. Perhaps walking an extra mile to help someone.  That is another Marathon and you are running it with all the training that life may have provided you with; or maybe  with not much training because it is something new to you.  Just know the results are different but the journey is still valuable.

Leaving the fear behind, find the motivation from within to keep going even when others are suggesting you should stop. Important to listen to your “gut” feeling though.  That is a guideline to follow.   Perhaps you  are in  need to readjust the plan or to wait a little.  That is fine, it is all part of it.

Anxiety and negative patterns may also come some times and attempt to jeopardize your effort.  Train for the challenge. Learn to re-frame  your  thoughts and to choose your words carefully when speaking to yourself. Build Mental toughness.

Of course, there are times when it is  hard to accomplish something alone, so do not be shy. Find your support network, either in the real world or online, or both.  At all times stay healthy. Eating balanced meals and keeping your body hydrated,  are key to keep your mind open, strong and motivated.

Be mindful. By being present and concentrating on every step taken, you may realize that life is lived while you’re striving to achieve your goals, not just by achieving them. Every step gets you further. One more mile run, one more item accomplished, one more challenge conquered.

On occasions, even after we have trained enough, we find ourselves crossing the finish line within the last runner group, or not crossing that finish line at all. When that is the case there is a reminder that we should have placed in the initial training plan: LIFE CONTINUES!

You may think that everyone else cares, and maybe they do for a day or possibly two, beyond that, however, their life goes on and not a thought will be given to your race.  You should do the same.  Whether crossing the line in the first group or in the last one ,the experience is all yours. Appreciate the journey.  The experience is probably more lasting that the final result.

You may feel like a failure but you aren’t. Any milestone, any task completed, every effort made,every moment you struggled, is a victory. You may have done nothing specifically wrong, it just wasn’t for you this time.  Be patient! Your triumph may all just be  in the #journey..  Use it as a step to continue running the #marathon of Life. #enjoy

It takes training,endurance and patience to run a marathon. Remember: life is not about how fast you go, but is about how far you go! So whatever is your #marathon either the #NYCMarathon or a life event one, I wish you to enjoy the journey, embrace the challenge and soak in the emotion of your accomplishment!

I would like to hear about  the #marathon you are running, very soon I will be sharing mine.

Thank you for reading my blog.

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