Marathon

Last Holy week, I  heeded my "kababayan"Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma's advise to meditate rather than go on a vacation.  It was a chance to open boxes of marathon and music books  stacked in the attic.  I found one topic that would-be  marathoners ask me during  clinics, why do I want to run a marathon?  Well, here's 26.2 reasons

1.            Run a marathon to have fun

2.            Run a marathon to give yourself a challenge

3.            To improve your health

4.            To get to know yourself better

5.            Raise your self-esteem

6.            To meet people and meet friends

7.            To be an inspiration to others

8.            To see the world

9.            To make business contacts

10.          So you can eat more

11.          To get back to nature

12.          To spend more time with your dog

13.          To sleep better

14.          To get over a disappointment

15.          To get to know your city or town

16.          To expand your wardrobe

17.          To control your weight healthily

18.          To reduce your stress levels

19.          To learn how to practice visualization

20.          To live longer

21.          To catch up on the news, your reading and                                           listening to music

22.          To get smarter

23.          To help save the earth

24.          To channel your compulsiveness

25.          To be part of an ongoing revolution

26.          To fulfill a dream

.2  To say that you did it.  Fernando Rama, 75 (Mayor Mike's  elder brother said however "walk don't run". While getting almost the same aerobic results, walking risked little injuries compared to running.  However when crossing the street, "run" don't walk.  "basin ma ligsan ka".

Motivations

There will be moments when a runner somewhat lose interest in running.  Here are some motivations from famous runners and organizations to keep the flame burning.  "I've learned" that  finishing a marathon isn't just  an athletic achievement.  It's  a state of mind, a state of mind that  says anything is possible  "John Hang, the Essential Runner". "And now I'm finishing a 26-mile race, damm! This is better than winning an Emmy!". Oprah  Winfrey. " I started running at age 72 because I was tired of all boring talk about funerals."  Ruth Rothbard ( who ran her first marathon at age 81.).  "It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop".---Lao Tzu.  " Running is a way of life for me, like just brushing my teeth.  If I don't run for a few days, I feel as if  something's been stolen from me." ---- John Kelly (former Boston Marathon champion).  "There are only three winners, the one who competes with himself, the one who crosses the finish line first, and the one who finishes the race."   ---Sri Chinmoy.  " The most important thing is not to win but to take part, just as in life the most important thing is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well".---The Olympic Creed