One Minute Blog: Marathon Running- A True Metaphor For Life

In the last 4 weeks, I endured and completed:

1. Ultra Marathon: Bengaluru (50 Km) [7th-Jan]

2. Mumbai Full Marathon (42.195 km) [21st-Jan]

3. Oxfam Trailwalker: Bengaluru (100 km) [2nd-Feb]

With many marathons over the years, i have deciphered that-

"Runs end, Running doesn't".

Each run teaches you something about life. Here, I am sharing this reflection from my recent runs.

Following are usually the phases one goes through while going through the marathon-

0 km: I know I can do it.

21 km: It's getting painful. Did I make the right choice choosing to do it?

30 km: Why the hell did I start?

38 km: I am close to giving up.

40 km: I think I can push a little

42.195 km: Never experienced a high like this.

Does this cycle sounds familiar with anything insurmountable you have attempted?

The cycle begins by taking a high risk, bringing in high energy, dealing with (often) self-created doubts, questioning the very reason to start, almost giving up, and while on the verge of giving up- putting in that additional 1% effort (baby steps) that gets you closer and eventually embracing glorious and glittering medals of success.

The path to eventual success in high risk ventures was never linear, will never-ever probably be.

Realized that Oprah Winfrey was bang on target when she said-

 "Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."

Here's a sketch note about this experience: