26.2 miles is an extremely precise distance and is not a round number in the metric system or the standard system of measurement. History states that in 490 BC a dude named Pheidippides was so excited that the Greeks had defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon, that he ran non-stop, around a mountain, from the city of Marathon to the city of Athens. This was a 25 mile route with several excruciating inclines, one of which exceeded 3.1 miles in height. To honor this tale of endurance, the 1896 Olympics held in Athens featured a race which was mapped along the predicted same route that Pheidippides took. Here is a shot from the actual race:
Marathon running is a great example of how perfectly efficient the human body is in its rarest form. When trained to perform a function and when properly fueled, our bodies can achieve great things. Take Spyros and his buddies in the photo above...they don't run in the same Newton's that I use, don't have body glide applied to their bodies, don't have Hammer Gels taped to their wastes and I am pretty sure the guy in the middle is wearing a tailored dress shirt.
My point is that we were created with precision and perfection. The bounds by which we are held are only restricted by our minds and our perception of reality. The guys above ran 25 miles in sandals. With determination and faith, you can achieve anything.
With the rain and all of the chatter about the race on Sunday, it is going to be extremely difficult to get my mind wrapped around running. When my legs are giving out at mile 22 as we pass Memorial Park, I am going to think about this picture and the metaphor that it represents. Never give up, never look back and keep your mind focused on the goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment