Mind over body
It starts with the feet. You put one foot in front of the other. That’s all there is to running, right? On the contrary, the feet are only one part of the equation. Whether covered in training shoes, Vibram Five-Fingers, or track spikes, your feet are constantly under attack as a runner. Sometimes the shoes can only do so much to protect your feet from the rough terrain. Calluses and blisters cover the feet of a long distance runner, but that is no reason to stop running. Just put on a band-aid, lace up the shoes, and keep on adding on to your mileage. Is the pain worth it?
The feet can only absorb so much of the pounding. The legs need to get in on the act. Tight calves, sore muscles, and shin splints often plague a runner’s legs. A runner’s form determines how much he or she is going to suffer. Stretching is key to keep the legs strong and avoid injury. Those individuals, like me, who learn the hard way of understanding the importance of form, are often struck with season-ending stress fractures. In other words, it’s your legs’ way of saying, “give me a break.” Is the pain still worth it?
Moving upward into the torso, the heart becomes a critical element in the life of any runner. Physically, a runner’s heartbeat increases in proportion to the pace, pounding harder and harder as the race progresses. A runner’s heart rate is key to the performance of all runners. Proper training will develop the strength, endurance, and efficiency of the heart. Emotionally, having heart is what separates the best runners from the rest. Is the pain still worth it?
Inside the chest lies another critical organ: the lungs. Endurance for a distance runner means constantly seeking to increase one’s lung capacity. Adding mileage to one’s training is one way to build endurance. Few of my friends realize that my weekly mileage regularly consists of 50-60 miles. Cross training on my new bike, playing basketball, hockey, and even the occasional game of ultimate frisbee all play a role in building my endurance. There are times when my body collapses at night with exhaustion. Is the pain still worth it?
The goal in any race is clearly to run as fast as possible, but how does someone go about doing so with all the pain? For me, the answer to that question is what distinguishes the most important part of the body in the sport of running: the head. Running is indeed a mental sport. Competitive distance runners understand that the sport is as much a test of physical strength and endurance as it is of emotional and mental fortitude. Two runners can be equally prepared physically, yet in the end, it is the runner who is willing to push his or her body to its limits who will experience continued success. It is the mental challenge of the sport of running that draws me to it. When I run, my feet are often covered in calluses and blisters, my legs hurt, my lungs are on fire, my heart pounds so hard in my chest that it feels like it will explode, yet my mind allows me to keep focused and disciplined. I feel no pain, only a deep sense of satisfaction and exhilaration.