Friday, April 25, 2014

Boston Marathon Recap - The Untold Experience


This race report won’t follow the traditional reports you may be used to seeing.  Given the events of last year, this event is too huge to focus on the marathon itself.  In my opinion, Boston is an experience like none other.  As such, any race report that only focuses on the marathon itself doesn’t give the reader a view into what the Boston Marathon is all about.  The mecca that is the Boston Marathon is about the city, the people who live there, and the unyielding support they give to provide a world class event.  To overcome the largest domestic terrorist threat on US soil since 9-11, the people of Boston opened their arms and we as a running community should be ever grateful.


From the moment I stepped on the plane I could sense a buzz in the air.  People were smiling, the flight crew even joked with us, saying you guys going to run some race?  From the airport a couple of us went right downtown – to the finish line.  We were just in time to see the teen 1KM race.  The energy was electrifying and you knew this weekend would be special.  Many people were saying we are here to finish the race and take our city back. 


Cordell Hull stated, “There is no greater responsibility resting upon peoples and governments everywhere than to make sure that enduring peace will this time – at long last – be established and maintained.”  A marathon by no means can erase the hurt and harm brought to those who tragically lost their lives, neither can it feel a void.  But, it’s as if the event itself has brought a sense of peace to the city, by knowing the event will take place and finish it will bring about an enduring peace.






People from all over the world came to see the city, to run the marathon, or just show their support for their loved ones.  Many, like me, were there to run their first Boston Marathon.  Others were returning to finish the race.  People like my running buddy, Joe Lenahan, were back to “take back the finish line”.  Runners are truly a special breed.  We all come from different walks of life for one common goal.  This goal brings us together to create unique bonds.  It’s through those bonds we are all like family.  I met people from as far away as Australia and India, as well as many others from various states across the US.  We were all happy to play a small part in helping Boston move forward. 


As for the race itself… like any other race, my intentions were to race it.  Miles 1-13 all was going according to plan.  But after mile 13, something hit me… maybe it was the deafening sound of the ladies of Wessley College, or realizing that for the last 13 miles there have been people along the course cheering the entire way.  I found myself not really focusing on racing but actually taking in the various sites and sounds of each of the towns I was going through.  Reading the signs, hearing the cheers, and just getting caught up in the emotion of the event.  It was truly amazing to see first-hand.  About mile 18-21 I tried to check back in and go ahead and finish fast, but I was honestly mentally checked out from a racing standpoint and decided to play with the crowd the rest of the way.  Many spectators were cheering USA, USA… after the race I found out Meb Keflezighi had won the men’s race, so I assume it was for him.  I just can’t say enough good things about the race and the crowd support, which I will grade as an A.  I’ll give myself a C+ for overall racing, but A for Spirit of the Marathon. J


 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Mind Games

Baseball great Yogi Berra once stated, "Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical."  I'm of the opinion this same logic applies to running... any endurance sport for that matter.  Want proof?  Ask any runner you know what's the hardest part of any run - starting.  Once you get going your endorphin's kick in and you start to feel great.  Before you know it you forget all the reasons why you didn't want to run in the first place.  I recently finished reading Elite Minds by Dr. Stan Beecham.  Dr. Beecham is a Sport Psychologist who has worked with many athletes at the collegiate, Olympic, and professional stage.  His views on physical ability versus mental make-up, doing the impossible, and belief there is only one way to fail is what drew me to his book.

"You can't put a limit on anything.  The more you dream, the farther you get." ~ Michael Phelps

Dr. Beecham believes that in order to reach a certain level of success you must be completely all in - give it 100 percent mental focus.  Your brain issues the commands, its your body's job to execute.  As we get older we tend to condition ourselves to think athletic ability is tied to having a perfect body, perfect weather, perfect genes.  Maybe yes, maybe no.  What I do know is this, through hard work, focus, and determination if you fully commit to the process of becoming a better runner by changing your mental outlook to succeed you will then succeed.  "What you believe about yourself and your world is the primary determinant to what you do and, ultimately, how well you do it."

"Do not try and bend the spoon.  That's impossible.  Instead... only try to realize the truth... There is no spoon."

How do the great athletes become successful?  Are they born successful, do they have a secret pirate map that leads them to the treasure, are they the chosen one?  To make the impossible possible you have to find what works for you... do what you are naturally capable of and continue to build on that success.  Dr. Beecham posited a quote on how people achieve success, "First do what is necessary... Then do the possible...And then you will find yourself doing the impossible."  If you want to start running or be a better runner then go out and do what's necessary... put in the work.  Impossible is around the corner.

"I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~ Thomas Edison

News flash!  There will come a time where you will stumble.  What you do at that moment is what will define you.  Dr. Beecham illustrates a story of a Special Forces soldier in charge of selecting and training potential candidates.  "The only way one could fail the task was to give up."  Too often when striving to try new things, or get better at something its the grey matter between our ears which causes us to stop before we've accomplished what we were after.  Sometimes if we pause and reflect on where we were, where we are, and what options we have to do next to get to the next goal we may find that we are closer to success than we first thought.  "No matter how desperate your situation may be, there is always something you can do."

My final note...  Success is not a destination, its a journey.  Don't limit your thinking, realize impossible isn't real, and always seek other options.  Get your mind right and the body will follow.  Until next time... and Keep Running!

~ Jerome