What I learned about life while running hundreds of miles

2011 was the most significant year of my very young running career (let's just say, if my running career were a child, it would be starting to run one of these days). I logged over 700 miles in New York City, the recreational running capital of the world, participated in a good number of races, posted a few PRs; long story short spent a lot of time on my feet. And some of that time, stuck between "We Will Rock You" and the last economics theory audiobook I chose to listen, was spent philosophizing (yes, I do have a license to philosophize and yes, it is a real verb). I admit that some of my thought processes might have unavoidably revolved around my post-run philly-cheesesteak sandwich, but there were also those that made me realize how perfect the analogy is, when people say "Life is a marathon".


There will be hills
Unless you are in Chicago. But realistically, who runs a race without hills. Just like almost no one goes through life without some rough periods. If you are lucky, the hills on your path won't be as steep as these famous hills listed by Runner's World. (although bragging rights increase considerably with the toughness of the hills.)
Don't worry about how hard the climb is though. You know what is on the other side of that hill? A downhill. Keep watching the top and how it gets closer with every step. You will feel worst right before it is over.

A little warning. In order to get stronger, runners often do "hill training", where they climb the same hill over and over again. I am in no way suggesting the real life version of this. It is true that every hill of life you climb, will make you a better person, but don't go through the rough years of college a few times just for the challenge.

Take it a step at a time
Any distance, be it a 5K (slightly over 3 miles) or a marathon (42K=26.2 miles) is longer than your body wants to go. Your body is happy just staying motionless in the short term and your brain will do everything it can to convince you. First thing your brain will say is that the distance you plan to run is too long. "Look at all those miles and hills and steps" it will say, "there is no way you can finish this, better quit while you can."
On those days all you can do is to take it one step at a time. Forget about the long term goals, concentrate on what is next. Is it a hill? Is it a Christmas break? Whatever. Get to the next station and then you can figure the rest.


Don't compare yourself to others
Had runners measured their success with their position in the pack, first Sunday of November would be a pretty depressing day in New York City. Let me tell ya', I have seen the marathon finish and it is one big celebration.

The runners know that they don't have the same genes with the elites. They didn't have the same kind of time to train or same resources. So, the best measure of success is your improvement against yourself. Did you do better than last year? And it doesn't just mean having a faster time. Did you recover faster, did you enjoy yourself better, did you avoid injuries better?

We tend to forget these details when it comes to our non-athletic lives. We compare ourselves to our classmates, neighbors, siblings, strangers we meet on the street. And always on certain quantifiable aspects. That is a great way to be disappointed with your life. Remember, as long as you are a better person than you were last year, you are doing fine.

The Wall
The Wall is the bane of distance runners. Physiologically, it is the moment when your legs run out of glycogen, their favorite fuel; mentally, it is the moment you contemplate your choice of entering the race and how great it would be to drop out. When you experience this moment, just know that it is worse than you feel it is. I have pushed through the Wall a number of times to find out my legs to be replenished. I know that it sounds unbelievable, but if you can't trust me, whom can you trust?

That being said, sometimes you see professional runners drop out of races or cut pace significantly and finish later than expected. Not due to significant injury, but to protect a future performance. Marathon takes a big toll on the body and therefore athletes can only compete in two races per year; one in Spring, one in Fall. By cutting their losses in this race, they are increasing their chances for another race soon after.

Just like the elites have limited number of races, you have a limited number of lives. One, to be exact. So, there may come a time, when you should stop trying and change course. But, how do you decide if it is time to stop pushing against the Wall and drop out of a language course, a career or a relationship? I don't know. (yeah, I learned this trick at the Ph.D. school too.) You, unfortunately, are the only person, who can decide this and this decision will be one of those hills we talked about previously. So, good luck!

One last thing and I will not explain this. Being nice and sharing the road, their pace or a hello never hurt a runner.

With that, I would like to wish you all an injury free, not too hilly, rich in aid stations, light on DOMS, full of friends, carb loaded, gatorade sprinkled, endorphin soaked 2012. Happy New Year!

Pictures: Central Park (mine), The Great Wall Of China (Flickr)