Some people feel the need to test their limits. Long distance running is a way to test one’s limit. Marathon is a way to physically or mentally push the limits of human endurance. Official distance is 42.195 kms (26 miles and 385 yards) and runners are expected to finish within 6:30 hours.
Most participants do not run a Marathon to win. For most runners, it is their personal finish time and their placement within their specific gender, age, runner group.
Should you try to stretch the limit of your own endurance? Does running a marathon sound absolutely horrible?
Here is a verbatim experience shared by one of my senior, while I was working with Life Insurance Company in India. He gave an account on how running happened and what he feels when he completes his first marathon of 42 kms in 4.34 hours well before the expected cut-off time:
“I’ve been running for a decade now, but I was never a serious runner till 2010, when I did my first half marathon in Mumbai. It was only last year (Sept 2011), when I decided to get serious and achieve 42 kms i.e. run a full marathon when I turn 42 in Sept 2012.
I began my (serious) training somewhere in May 2012, I chose a 22 weeks training plan. This training was tough as I was supposed to do a mileage of 1100 kms in my training. Over the time as I kept running my body slowly adapted to running longer miles and enjoying every lap achieved. During my training, I made sure that I was prepared both physically and mentally for the big event I had planned for myself. Running Full Marathon is much more than a physical challenge. It is a test of one’s metal and physical endurance.
As a part of my training & preparations, I read tons of stories about people who did not train properly and failed miserably the day of the event. I also studied extensively on what to eat, what to wear, what to take during my long runs, huw much sleep to get, and many more that pertained to marathon running. But finally, I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed my training… getting up at 3:30 am on Sunday morning for long runs, which were also a part of my enjoyment.
I knew what to expect on race day…
As expected, it was a chilly Amsterdam morning… I knew it would take the early km’s of the race to get warmed up… The race was to start at the Olympic stadium. While I was waiting for the gun fire, I met several interesting people in the stadium like Sammy from London whose words inspired me, he said “You have to finish this race strong… because this is the same stadium where India won its Gold medal in hockey in 1928…”. This few words motivated me and kept me going till I finished my race.
I started my race with 6.45 pace for about 3 kms… it was difficult to ignore the pace of elite runners but somehow, I managed to ignore elite runners erratic pacing… after 3 km mark, my plan was to maintain 6 pace (10 kms per hour) continuously till 20 kms… I reached half-marathon in just over 2 hr 09 minutes. I was feeling very strong but still wanting to be patient and cautious… and now I again set a new target for myself – to maintain the same pace till 30 km mark.
At 26 kms, I saw 4.15 bus passing me (“bus” in marathon terms is a group of professional runners who make sure you complete the race in a particular time). I begin to get excited and ran with them for about 3 kms. I was happy that I was maintaining my 6 pace till 32 kms… I was going very strong till about 35 km mark and then the struggle started from here to the end… my pace was 7 till 40 kms and the last 2 kms took 18 minutes… no matter how much you read/train about “The infamous wall” (it is the sensation marathon runners often experience towards the end of a race when their legs become heavy and they feel they can run no farther.) Or how to prepare for the final few miles… it is a true test of mental endurance…
And then the moment arrived, I finished my FIRST Marathon in 4 hours and 34 minutes… what a moment, at age 42 today I achieved my Marathon target… It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience… I will probably run another one, two or ten more, but no definite plans at this point. I’ll just keep on running, that’s for sure!”
Most of the successful people enjoy while running. As per Mr. Anil Ambani (Chairman, Reliance ADA group) … Running does something to my mind… some of my brightest business ideas come to me when I’m running.
According to a research published on the Social Science Research Network, which “finds a positive relation between CEO fitness and firm value.”, Using data on CEOs of S&P 1500 companies from 2001 to 2011, they determined which CEOs had, on any given year, completed a Marathon, and match these findings with each company’s market value as compared to its book value from that same time period. Companies helmed by marathon runners, the study found, were 5 percent more valuable than those led by non- “fit” executives.
In other words, the next time you're deciding whether or not to invest in a company, do your due diligence and make sure its CEO has run a marathon in the past year.
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