♠ Posted by Paul Naylor at 6:00 PM
Running a marathon is a lifetime goal for many runners I met over the years. Across the many reasons they had for running, it is impossible to record every motivation into a volume of books; least a single blog post. If you have been thinking about running a marathon, but not sure about getting started. Then you can review the below list to help generate some ideas.
1. Stay motivated to run. - If you are looking for a reason to keep running through out the year, or to really stick to your New Year's Resolution to run. Signing up for a Marathon is a great way to keep you moving along.
2. Achieving a life-long goal. - Marathons are on many Bucket Lists across the country. Even if you are planning to run just one marathon in your life, this is a worthy goal to work towards.
3. Improve your health. - Running keeps your overall health in check, whether it be your blood pressure or cholesterol, or if your immune system. This type of training will do wonders for your health.
4. Raise money for a good cause. - Many marathons donate the proceeds to local or national charities. The proceeds usually come from the race entry fees. This keeps me motivated to keep training becuase this allows me to be part of something bigger than myself.
5. Disprove those who have doubted you. - Some have grown up being mocked or laughed at for not being athletic, its terrible when young children and youth have to go through this. I have met many runners that have trained for a marathon to over that past, and they are some of the best stories I've heard about the journey of training.
6. You'll sleep better. - If you have trouble sleeping, then running for long distances can really help fast asleep quickly. I at times was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
7. Life time bragging rights. - How many people do you know can say that they have ran a marathon? How cool would it be to always have one-up on your non-running friends?
8. Staying busy. - I you have time to kill, running is a great way to fill that time. If you have need to get away from recent life events, running can be a great event that can take your mind away from life events. Not only it'll take you away, it'll help with the stress that life can give us.
9. Excuse to buy more running gear. - With many training runs during each week, having a couple pairs of shorts and shirts really wont cut it. For maintaining your training, you can reward yourself with buying new gear. This can include running clothes, shoes, watches or Garmins, entries to other races, etc.. For both men and women, buying new running gear is always exciting! I mean it, even guys get giddy about it.
10. You'll be a great role model. - A marathon is a big and daunting task, and even if friends or family think you're nuts for running one, you'll definitely be an inspiration to them. Even for other runners, its inspiring. I have often found motivation to run more or run harder after seeing friends run a marathon for the very first time.
11. You'll be in better shape. - I know that this might seem like a given, but other than just being in great shape. Having a better handle on your emotional and mental health will go with physical health.
12. Get a cool medal and shirt. - To be honest, getting a medal at the end of the race is 80% of the deciding factor if I run a race. I love to collect finisher medals! Not so much on the shirts, but I have my medals displayed at my desk for all to see.
13. People will make signs for you. - Seeing signs through out the race is part of the fun when running. Many of them are humorous, while the others are motivational. The best part is when spectators make signs for complete random people. I think they are all great.
14. You'll meet new people. - I have met many runners from around the country and all over the world. To hear their stories, training schedule, home cultures and experiences, are sometimes what makes a race a great place to hang out after your race. I have also made lifelong friends with people I met on race day or during training.
15. A great distraction. - Running is a great way to take your mind off things that are happening around home, work or just in the family. Its also a great way to relieve stress and tension.
16. Spend time with family and friends. - Some of the best running partners are family, and close friends also make great running partners. I have seen sisters become closer when training together, as well as friends becoming even better 'best friends'.
17. Find new places to run. - Training for a marathon gets you out of the rut of running around the block a few times. This is where runners find new parks, trails in the mountains, or even in the downtown area. Some of my favorite runs take place on the strip in Las Vegas early on Saturday morning. Or even any downtown area early morning.
18. Travel to new places - Many races you see take place in your local city, but there is the opportunity to travel to different cities, canyons or close to water. Running a race while on vacation is a great to see a new city or area.
19. You'll find inspiration along the way. - I have found inspiration in books, movies, watching city marathons on TV, and even even watching past races on YouTube. Inspiration really can be found anywhere. Some of the best inspiration I have found, has been in conversation with other runners. Hearing their stories, experiences, and thought on training, can really motivate you to take your running to another level.
20. Indulging after the race. - During training, you are usually on a strict diet. I have found myself cutting back on things like pizza, fast food, and keeping the dessert table in check. After running a marathon, a couple weeks rest is pretty standard. During this resting period, take this time to go and eat some of the foods that you had to go without during the training months.
21. You'll better understand runner's lingo. - When you hear words like: VO2 Max, pronation, Fartleks, strides/cadence, foot strike and BQ just to name a few. These are all lingo words in the running world. When starting out, you may not know these words, but after training and running a marathon, you'll better understand them.
22. Amazing feeling of accomplishment. - I cannot think of any other feeling that you have after crossing the finish line of the marathon, especially if it is your first marathon. The months and weeks of training, the sacrifices that you have made, along with the blood - sweat- and tears; all is worth it at the end. You WILL feel on top of the world!
23. The experience will change you. - Whether if the marathon is going to be your only marathon, or if you are planning to run another, everything from training to race itself. You will have a tremendous amount of growth, both physically and mentally.
24. You'll learn life lessons. - When training and running for a marathon, you'll learn many lessons of making sacrifices, overcoming doubt, overcoming challenges and basically, overcoming yourself. Many can be applied to regular life events.
25. Your confidence will soar. - When you look back on your experience, and see that you have done a really hard event. What other areas in you life will you look at and say 'I have done a marathon, so I can do that'? It'll come to your mind often after your marathon.
26. You'll start planing for your next marathon. - I have heard so many times that one marathon is enough, that is usually what I hear when training for their first one. After finishing one, I have heard many runners making plans for their next race. It may not be a marathon at first, it could be a 10k or half marathon. But their first marathon is in most cases, not their last race.
Source credit: Christine Luff -
0 comments:
Post a Comment