Donut on the Run
Many assume that because I have run so many marathons that it’s no big deal. I hear “half marathon must be a nice training run for you” and other comments. While it is true that 13.1 miles is shorter than 26.2 miles, there is no guarantee that it will be “no big deal.”
Just as driving to work on the same path seems simple, there are many obstacles that can alter the experience. There may be an accident, weather could be blinding, or you ran out of coffee. Running is the same.
In my 12th marathon, I bonked hard at mile 15. That left 11 miles of suffering to get through. In those 11 miles I did a full analysis of what I did differently. Was it dinner the night before? Did I wake up at a different time? Are my shoes tied extra tight? Then eventually I just said screw it and enjoyed the view. In fact, I happily took a beer from a spectator at mile 17 and a chocolate donut from a volunteer at mile 22.
Every run is a new adventure. If it wasn’t, then why wouldn’t the same person win every event? Dial in the process and keep it there. However, life is an adventure full of little races along the way. How boring would it be if we didn’t have those adventures … create your own races each day.
