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