From as far as I can remember, I have not been able run fast. My brother was faster than me and my friends were also faster than me. When I thought of hanging up my running shoes during my high school days: this random teacher, appoints me as a school representative in the 200 meter race at running competition. I really don’t have a clue what this teacher saw in me. Whatever he thought he saw in me disappeared the minute I entered the race track. When the race was started, I raced with all my might and led the pack of runners for a good 7 seconds (give or take) and after that I got tired and they began to pass me one by one until I was last. From that moment I was totally convinced that running is not my thing. The only thing I was good at is singing and debating (I am still active there). If you have a guy you need to debate away, call me.
As I grew up, I gave up all sporting activity and found a job at McDonald’s, the worst place I have worked (I still get nightmares). Working at McDonald’s forced me to live in the suburb that had people who were runners and cyclist. I challenged myself one afternoon to go running and I gave in to my own challenge. I put on my shots and running shoes and sped out the gate onto the road. I ran for about two minutes and I began to run out air. I mean I barely completed 250 meters and I was about to die. I went back home defeated.
Next day, I decided I was going to run again. I tried to run but my body was aching everywhere. It was as this moment where I concluded that I will never run again, except in the events where my life was at stake. The urge to exercise and to appear like a responsible man in the curious eyes of my neighbors led me to a bicycle shop. I bought my self a 26 inch Raleigh Mountain bicycle. We had a great relationship with my bicycle, until the day it was stolen from me.
To cut the long story short, I got fat and I bought a Silver Strider Mountain Bike. That bicycle was very fast but I broke it and so I decided to sell it. This how ever did not solve my weigh gaining problem. This led me to the greatest idea ever. I needed to learn to run. I tried to run again, 10 years after I had concluded that I will never run again except in the event where my life was at stake. The weight gain meant that my life was at stake. Learning from my past experience with running, I decided to get a running app that will tell me how fast and how far am I going. My runs began with a slow jog which eventually evolved into a faster pace.
Today I am in the marathon training plan with Nike Running Club App and I am running over thirty kilometers per week. I am getting faster and stronger in the business of running.
So, what have I learned from running?
- You never know you can run unless you try.
- I spent many years thinking that I will never be able to run because I wasn’t fast enough and due to that it was painful to my chest. I learned that trying and failing and then try again will help you to get your body and your mind to get used to the idea of running and thus grow in speed and in strength.
- Giving
up is never an option.
- When I started running I had one rule for myself: Never stop running until I reach the target distance. The lesson I got there is that I am able to endure hardship. You will have to agree with me, running is never a walk in the park. It is very hard. The people who run mega and Ultra-marathons have a great deal of tenacity. This is very applicable also in life. In whatever we do we should never give up if it is for the good cause. The book of Hebrews in encouraging believers who were under extreme persecution, says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Heb 12:1-3)
- You
relate better with people of the same walk.
- When I am running on the road, I don’t greet everyone I meet, however, I would always greet runners who are running at that very moment I am running. The reason for that is that I understand their hardship and they understand mine. We may not have the same objectives or running at the same direction but we are connected by action, and that is running.
- You stick to your run.
- One of the greatest disciplines I have learned in running is that I should never compete with anyone. When I am running I only have myself to beat. I don’t compete with a random strangers. If he is faster than me, well, let him go, I don’t where they are going and where they come from. Why should I stress myself? I am only running my course. This is great lesson. In life my life is mine. Just because my friends have gotten rich does not necessary mean I should rich. Just because they are married and I am not does not me that I should now pursue a marriage partner. I am not in a competition. I stick to my lane.
The music on this episode is by Audionautix.com
Contact Us
Join our WhatsApp Group, Like our Facebook page and Follow us on Twitter or email us
