It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over…

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For-BlogIt’s over.

On October 26, I successfully racewalked the 39th Marine Corps Marathon.  Actually, in my own terms, much more than successfully.  On race day, I was certain that I could meet the pace requirement for the first twenty miles1, but just barely.  To my astonishment, I completed that distance twenty minutes faster than I ever expected. Overall, I finished the race in a very respectable time, and I had lots of energy and no significant pain or injury at the end. To say that I am proud of my  achievement would be an understatement, not just because I had such a good race, but because I met all my goals.2

This blog was originally intended to my training process as I prepared for the race and finally tested myself on race day.  Instead, there were large gaps in the narrative because I did not want to talk about certain aspects of the training until I was sure they had paid off.  Now I can freely discuss them, if not with the full backing of scientific research, then at least with the authority of success.3

So, in sharing the rest of this narrative, I will no longer be able to bring you along in a way that you sympathetically get butterflies before the race, wondering along with me if I can actually pull it off.  But I will be able to tell you with clarity what worked and what didn’t.  In so doing, I hope to engage you in the creative formation (or reformation) of your own approach to meeting and moving past physical challenges.

Whether you’re in a fitness program, trying to heal from an injury through rehab, or improve your skill and performance at a sport or other activity, I believe the principles I advance will provide an alternative perspective that can help you make progress with less wear and tear and greater pleasure.

 

  1. See post, “Be Careful What You Wish For”
  2. ‘See post, “We Choose To Go To The Moon.”
  3. Stephen Colbert fans may detect here a whiff of “truthiness” (i.e. something you know is true simply because it feels true). The difference in this case is measurable, objective reality: (a) exceeding performance expectations, (b) finishing the race, and (c) remaining energetic, uninjured and pain-free.