Part of the attraction to running is pushing yourself a little farther while learning how far is exactly the optimal amount. There is an immediate feedback mechanism as you balance all the input from each part of your body: the sound of your lungs, the pumping of your heart, your feet pounding the ground, your arms swinging in sync to make you go farther. It is absolutely physical, and very much mental. When you near your peak performance your mind and your body are all focused to overcome smaller constraints and pains to achieve the next step and ultimately reach the end of the course.
Yesterday I had the chance to watch the powerful documentary about the great Brazilian Formula One driver, Ayrton Senna. He overcome obstacles, controversy, and occasional personal doubts to become the world's fastest man on wheels. His international success engendered intense national pride at a time when his homeland was in a state of discord. His untimely death marked the rebirth of hope and unity for the largest country in South America.
Aryton Senna had extraoardinary talents that he honed to the utmost to achieve his greatness. Most of the rest of us will never acquire his level of acclaim, yet we all can benefit from using his method for self improvement. In his own words:
"I continuously go further and further learning about my own limitations, my body limitation, psychological limitations. It's a way of life for me."
Até amanhã...
8/22/11 - 2.0 miles | 20 mins | 5.7 mph | 217 kcal
Eight weeks down, eight weeks to go! I'm happy with my progress, but feeling the mid-training ennui. Yes, I have run 143 miles, but I still have at least 143 more to go. In times like these it's important to keep everything in perspective. It seems like a mountain, but really, all I need to do is keep running roughly another 30 to 40 hours, with the worst of my adversaries being deer flies and my own preference for sitting on my comfy couch while eating bon-bons. Here's a great suggestion from my fearless daughter for those moments when one just doesn't feel like running: Inscribe "NEC ASPERA TERRANT" on your running shoes, so that you can see it every time you look down.
nec and neque [not; nor]
terreo, terrere [to frighten, terrify; scare away; to deter]
asper -era -erum [difficult]
Nec aspera terrant, or Undaunted by difficulties, is an ageless motto of warriors and explorers. These are the fighting words of fearless folks such as Colonial Percy Fawcett, who traveled rather further and longer through the rather more dangerous wilds of Brazil in 1925 looking for lost ancient cities and treasure than I ever do through the back roads of SE Michigan. His challenges most certainly exceeded running a half-marathon, and his exploits remain the source of discussion until today. If you're in the mood to take a few minutes off from your own search for lost treasure or quest for boundless glory, enjoy watching this PBS special Lost in the Amazon, and remember that all you have to do is jog around the block. It will make the miles you run seem easy.
Até amanhã...
8/8/11 - 2.0 miles | 21 mins | 5.7 mph | 213 kcal - two days in a row!
