Marathons Are for Crazy People... Or So I Thought!

I've never run a marathon before; and, for good reason... I'd die! I figure with my football knees I'd last about one mile and collapse. But, this morning I stood on the roadside and cheered-on thousands of runners -- including my daughter -- who undertook this amazing challenge and finished. 

I must admit, prior to attending today's event, I thought anyone who runs 26.2 miles -- or even 12+ miles as part of the half-marathon -- is either crazy or a masochist. After all, the event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens (a distance of 26.2 miles), who, shortly after delivering his victory message to the Generals, collapsed and died.  Need I say more?

Well, in fairness to Pheidippides and those 8,000+ courageous runners this morning, the answer is "yes." You see, after witnessing this spectacular event, I now understand a marathon runner's motivation a little better. The goal isn't necessarily to win, place or show, but rather to finish or beat their previous time. It's about setting a stretch goal then pushing yourself to your physical and mental limit to achieve that goal.

I find it fascinating that among the thousands of runners this morning were men and women of all ages, parents pushing strollers with their kids cuddled up inside, and even a blind women who used her red/white cane to guide herself along the route. It was a humbling moment for me to see so many valiant people struggle against their own physical, mental and emotional limitations and somehow summon up the strength and courage to cross that finish line.

So, hats off to all you wild n' crazy marathon runners. While I'll probably never wear a bib number, I will be out there standing along the route to cheer you on as you summon that last ounce of energy to cross the finish line. Because, now I understand what it demands of you. You have my respect. Way to go!

About the Author.  Tom Hinton is a professional speaker and the author of 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life! which is available on Amazon.com  He can be reached at: tom@tomhinton.com

Living Your Passion

Last week, I was invited to speak at a university class on the topic Follow Your Dreams. I confessed to these eager juniors and seniors that it had only taken me 37 years to find the path to living my passion and follow my dreams.  But, today, there are fewer boundaries and more opportunities for twenty-year olds to express their dreams and live their passion. My point was simply it’s never too late to live your dream, and the sooner you begin to live your passion, the sooner you can begin charting your roadmap to fulfillment, abundance and success.

After my presentation, several students came forward seeking my personal advice and counsel on their goals and dreams. One enthusiastic young man told me, “I plan to be where you are in ten years.”  I wished him luck and encouraged him onward.  But, on my way back to the airport, it occurred to me that in ten years, he would only be 30 years old and, therefore, it would be impossible for him to “be where I was at” given his limited life experiences to that point.

Interestingly, this same point was made a few days later during a speech by Terry Hawkins, an outstanding speaker, trainer and author of the popular Stickman book series for kids. During her presentation, Terry shared a story about meeting a young lady who also aspired to be a speaker/author. Terry told us, “In our 50s, we have accumulated many memories. But, in our 20s, we have few memories and life experiences. That’s why life gets harder as we get older, and that’s why no one in their 20s or 30s can quite be like me.  It’s my life experiences and stories that make me different and unique from anyone else.” 

How true that is. Each of us is destined to travel our own path. At various intersections of your life, there are choices you must make and consequences for every choice. Some consequences are very positive – meeting the love of your life at the party you decide to attend at the last minute, or finding out about a great job opportunity from a friend of a friend who happens to be there.

Living your passion is one of the cornerstones of The Course of 10,000 Days™. To live your passion, you need to answer two simple, but demanding questions. First, “What is it that you love to do so much, you would do it for free; but, you’re so good at it someone will pay you to do it?  Secondly, what’s your plan for success?  The sooner you can answer those questions, the sooner you can begin to live your passion.

About the Author: Tom Hinton is a professional speaker and the author of the popular new book, 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life! He teaches The Course of 10,000 Days™, a dynamic personal development and self-growth weekend retreat for individuals who want to live their passion, love their life and create a lasting legacy. For information please visit: www.10000Days.org