A wise man once said, "Step one to running a marathon: You run. There is no step two."
In the simplest terms, Barney Stinson was right. You run. When you are finished, you stop running. However, if running were truly that easy, everyone would do it. Instead, running is challenging. It requires dedication, smarts, and a little bit of toughness. Running doesn't always feel good, yet we still get up with the sun and chase the horizon. We log mile after mile, knowing it is getting us ready for that next race. We climb those stairs and hit those hills, slowly but surely shaving minutes off our time. While a basketball player practices hundreds of free throws, runners strip away seconds.
The physical training is only half of the preparation. Runners must prepare mentally too. They need to visualize themselves on the course. They should see themselves finishing the race. They can mentally break the race down into three parts: The first part, plan to run with your head, the second part run with your personality, and the third part run with your heart. It's all about being ready for that big day.
Juma Ikangaa, New York City Marathon winner said, "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." So, while Barney was technically right about running, there is a lot more to it. When that summer day in August finally arrives, you have got to be ready.
*Shared by Mini Marathon runner John Tillotson
**To share your stories or ideas email Kat@MadisonMiniMarathon.com
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