In a few days, I'll attempt my second marathon. Arguably that effort started in June this year when the training began, and this weekend will be the 'last 42 kms' of that long hot summer of running. To date, I've logged 523kms / 313 miles in this program, so the last bit should be easy.
In truth no marathon is ever easy, and in the last two months, I've been fighting an injury (healing would imply it's getting better), so the training has been less enjoyable than normal. This is the heart of what I wanted to say today - the enjoyment aspect. I was asked a few weeks back why I run. In fact I think I asked it of someone else, having not given it much thought myself. But it did cause me to reflect a little. The answer wasn't forthcoming which was interesting (intellectually anyways) to me. Why would I put myself through something as time consuming, painful, strenuous and stressful as this if I wasn't sure why I was doing it? And - how had it gotten this far, without understanding that most basic aspect.
After a month or so of thinking casually on the subject, I arrived at the idea that I do it to see if I could do it. That most circular logic which would cause an Excel error in other circumstances, is really about testing myself, pushing myself. It wouldn't be much of a test if I found it easy, now would it ? Doing something because it represents a challenge is something I've seen in myself numerous times before. It's good to push the limits of what you can do - at least that's something I believe in for myself. Do you do that ? The first time is always the magic on that litmus test of will-power by the way. After that, it does get harder as in a sense, you already proved to yourself you could do it.
So how will this weekend go ? I'm unsure as I write this. Every marker will be one closer to the line, and every step will one I don't have to run again. I think in a sense, it'll be a little sad that it's come to an end.
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