a marathon task
(p and i were talking about it this morning, and it got me thinking...)
two and some years ago, i ran my first mile (with walk breaks, admittedly). at that point it was equivalent to conquering the world. asha was training folks for the 2005 marathons, and i signed up. i still remember my chat with my friend k (who had just recently witnessed my struggle through the b2b walk) on the day of my first tracks workout. i told him i was planning to train, and he smoothly transitioned to the next thread of conversation. when it was closer to 7, i told him i had to leave for the tracks. he was shocked to learn i was serious. in fact he rudely explained how he thought i was joking, given my performance at b2b. i am shocked too when i think back to how ambitious i was. i had run, perhaps, a total of 5 miles in life. basketball may have built some stamina, but that was 7 years ago...
that first workout was on the 22nd of may, '05. what followed were the 5 most motivated months of my life, thus far. better aware of my body's limitations, i now realize the distances that my mind was able to make it run. i don't doubt for a second that i wouldn't give up the experience for anything (... anything? maybe not ;), but i have realized over time that - like my discrete math (and turing award-winning) professor would say - "it is not for everyone". just as one needs the right vocal chords to sing opera, one needs the right body/muscle/tissue type to run long distances.
i no longer blindly encourage people to train for the 26.2. i ask people to be very very careful, to go for regular check-ups to the physical medicine specialist, and to cut back as soon as their body complains. injuries still happen, though. injuries that may last a long, long time. and who knows then - will it have been worth the while? at that point it better have been, because there isn't a choice.
i loved that i was able to run for the first time in my life. i loved that my asthma had ceased to be a limitation. i loved that first run down the stanford dish, though it was short and downhill. i loved every run that followed, and i remember each one. i soon reached a point where injuries kept me away from running, altogether. the next year when it came time to train, i had to drop out due to a hip injury. i ran three times after my marathon - 24th november '05, 21st december '05, and 29th march, '06 - when the pain was finally too much to bear. i wish i knew when i'll be able to run again, pain-free. perhaps if i had still been running a mile or two, i'd have been able to run sustainedly all this while. but perhaps so many things...
the ipod i would listen to my music on, as i ran, hasn't been touched since my marathon. in fact, i haven't even checked to see what songs are on it, lest i find the playlist i had programmed in for the big day. when i hear any of them in another context, i am transported to a world that feels alien to me now.
all this sounds sadder than i feel though, in truth. i am happy to share 'marathon bonds' with folks who know what i'm talking about. it's also the first time i found how powerful love and support can be, and what it means to be really able to lean on someone. i can't forget how i kissed my knees after my infinitely torturous 16-miler :). i now recognize the complexity of the human body better, and how many different parts of the body can (with so little effort) revolt to screw one's peace.
i still can't believe that i trained for and ran a marathon, in life, and every reminder is a constant source of confidence and encouragement. i display my medal conspicuously in the living room so that i never forget my realization then, that the possibilities are endless - there are no limits to what the mind can achieve.
is there a conclusion then? (or am i just rambling as usual?) i guess i'll end with saying - i won't push you to train for or run a marathon. if you decide to take on the task though, i'll be there to support you and encourage much as i know to. but please learn, along the way, to listen to your body. and whenever you need it, i'll be happy to say a little prayer for you.
ironically, they put a photo of me on the '06 and '07 publicity flyers :). considering how much i've run in the last couple of years, that's pretty funny :D. ok ok, back to econ!
two and some years ago, i ran my first mile (with walk breaks, admittedly). at that point it was equivalent to conquering the world. asha was training folks for the 2005 marathons, and i signed up. i still remember my chat with my friend k (who had just recently witnessed my struggle through the b2b walk) on the day of my first tracks workout. i told him i was planning to train, and he smoothly transitioned to the next thread of conversation. when it was closer to 7, i told him i had to leave for the tracks. he was shocked to learn i was serious. in fact he rudely explained how he thought i was joking, given my performance at b2b. i am shocked too when i think back to how ambitious i was. i had run, perhaps, a total of 5 miles in life. basketball may have built some stamina, but that was 7 years ago...
that first workout was on the 22nd of may, '05. what followed were the 5 most motivated months of my life, thus far. better aware of my body's limitations, i now realize the distances that my mind was able to make it run. i don't doubt for a second that i wouldn't give up the experience for anything (... anything? maybe not ;), but i have realized over time that - like my discrete math (and turing award-winning) professor would say - "it is not for everyone". just as one needs the right vocal chords to sing opera, one needs the right body/muscle/tissue type to run long distances.
i no longer blindly encourage people to train for the 26.2. i ask people to be very very careful, to go for regular check-ups to the physical medicine specialist, and to cut back as soon as their body complains. injuries still happen, though. injuries that may last a long, long time. and who knows then - will it have been worth the while? at that point it better have been, because there isn't a choice.
i loved that i was able to run for the first time in my life. i loved that my asthma had ceased to be a limitation. i loved that first run down the stanford dish, though it was short and downhill. i loved every run that followed, and i remember each one. i soon reached a point where injuries kept me away from running, altogether. the next year when it came time to train, i had to drop out due to a hip injury. i ran three times after my marathon - 24th november '05, 21st december '05, and 29th march, '06 - when the pain was finally too much to bear. i wish i knew when i'll be able to run again, pain-free. perhaps if i had still been running a mile or two, i'd have been able to run sustainedly all this while. but perhaps so many things...
the ipod i would listen to my music on, as i ran, hasn't been touched since my marathon. in fact, i haven't even checked to see what songs are on it, lest i find the playlist i had programmed in for the big day. when i hear any of them in another context, i am transported to a world that feels alien to me now.
all this sounds sadder than i feel though, in truth. i am happy to share 'marathon bonds' with folks who know what i'm talking about. it's also the first time i found how powerful love and support can be, and what it means to be really able to lean on someone. i can't forget how i kissed my knees after my infinitely torturous 16-miler :). i now recognize the complexity of the human body better, and how many different parts of the body can (with so little effort) revolt to screw one's peace.
i still can't believe that i trained for and ran a marathon, in life, and every reminder is a constant source of confidence and encouragement. i display my medal conspicuously in the living room so that i never forget my realization then, that the possibilities are endless - there are no limits to what the mind can achieve.
is there a conclusion then? (or am i just rambling as usual?) i guess i'll end with saying - i won't push you to train for or run a marathon. if you decide to take on the task though, i'll be there to support you and encourage much as i know to. but please learn, along the way, to listen to your body. and whenever you need it, i'll be happy to say a little prayer for you.
ironically, they put a photo of me on the '06 and '07 publicity flyers :). considering how much i've run in the last couple of years, that's pretty funny :D. ok ok, back to econ!
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