When people find out that I run marathons, I always get lots of questions...
A sampling of questions and the answers I give:
How can you run that far? Well, it's really just one foot in front of the other, ya know? Oh yeah, and I guess those 18 weeks of training don't hurt.
Don't you get tired? *blank stare* But, in my head I'm saying...Really?? You're really asking me this?? You're really asking me if running for 4+ hours is tiring?
How did you start? Like any other runner starts.... I couldn't run around the block without feeling like I was going into cardiac arrest, so I started slow... I'd run a little, walk a little, and when I got up to running a full mile without stopping, I never looked back.
How far is the marathon that you ran? This is my all-time favorite question. I know it irritates a lot of runners to get this question. But, I think it's hilarious. I mean, I can understand not knowing the distance of a marathon, but not knowing that the word marathon denotes an actual, consistent distance.... that's just hilarious to me, but I always answer with a simple... Marathons are 26.2 miles.
You ran the half? Umm... no, the full.
My all time most hated post marathon question: How did you place/How did you do/Did you win anything? Now, I realize... if you don't run marathons, you may not know that probably 95% of the runners are competing against themselves, not other runners. But, how am I supposed to respond to a questions like... How'd you do? Usually... I say... ummm... I finished. And in my head, I'm thinking...I ran 26.2 miles. What the hell did you do?
Why running? This is by far the hardest question to answer in words. Now, if I could, by chance, give them a taste of the run I had this morning.... I wouldn't have to use words. My run this morning was one of those runs... you know what I mean. It was one of those runs that felt effortless, spiritual, detoxing, energizing, and filled me with such a sense of pride, confidence, and strength. It was one of those runs that completely erases all the other shitty runs you've had in the past couple of weeks.
Why marathons? Because training for marathons is probably the hardest thing I'll ever do. Because it isn't easy. Because it requires discipline and it feeds and soothes the inner control freak inside me.
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3 comments:
Amen sister! hehe
It's kind of funny the questions that arise when people find out you run...I always laugh to myself when I hear people say "Oh I could never do that, you must be crazy."
Seriously, sometimes I think I am, but it is so very worth it!
Have a great day!
~K
"...it feeds and soothes the inner control freak inside me."
Of running's many benefits, that one may be the best.
It's not a question, but I've gotten this comment a few times: "26 miles? I don't even like to drive that far!" Saves on gas, I guess.
And I'll second that Amen! It's always amazing to me how some non-runners think running is this mystical sport that no one but Olympic athletes can do & not realizing that most of us ran around as kids & thought nothing of it!
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