Anupam- The Dreamer

Image credit: Gemini

When you look at athletes who are long-distance runners like marathoners, one gets amazed that how such a skinny man/woman runs for distances like 5Km, 10Km, 21Km, 42Km and even 100Km! Because for a common person, it seems difficult to even run for 1Km as we don’t need to do that in the modern-era where we have vehicles to take us places. I think it wasn’t too difficult for the older generation, but for our generation with sedentary lifestyle it has become a task in itself! The athletes have minimal body fat and they look so frail that even wind can blow them away, but despite this they achieve feats which can easily put them in super-human category because they have developed massive physical and mental strength. Off-late, this trend of long-distance running is gaining momentum worldwide, partially due to growing awareness about the health in common populace and partially as a fun-activity as a break from the routine sedentary lifestyle.

So, I thought why not to hop on this trend and discover for myself what it means to run for long distances. My rendezvous with some level of consistent running started when I was in college. There even doing 2K (5 rounds of the athletic track) seemed tough even during teenage years. Then, after the college this long-distance thing went into slumber, till again running was made compulsory as part of physical training at Nagpur academy. Running for 1K straight, made the lungs gasping for air and legs sore! After academy, leaving sporadic instances of running, some serious breakthrough came recently when I saw that people as skinny as myself and in the known circle are running for long-distances comfortably. And it is of course healthy exercise for keeping fit. So, this is what I have discovered until now in my newfound quest for long runs:

Lesson 1: You have to run your own race

There are different distances that one can cover in the long-distance running- 2K, 5K, 10K, 21K, 42K and so on….The more you come to read about the events across the globe, the more is there in the offing- there are even ultra-marathons of 50K and 100K, organized in India too which can span for more than 1 day. Then, there are triathlons like IRONMAN triathlon with 3.9k swim, 180.2k bike, and 42.2k marathon run.

The point here is that you have to choose for yourself what distance you are aiming at! You don’t have to compare with others but rather with yourself! I have seen people running 10k, just to avoid fomo and they start race like Usain Bolt. After 1k, you can say hi when you cross them as they start walking due to over-straining themselves, beyond their own bodily capacity.

It’s like life! Everybody is running his/her own race, and you don’t have to copy them blindly. Yes, you can certainly take inspiration from them but the comparison you must do is with yourself and try to outshine only your previous best! No one can do that for you, they can encourage you, but in the end, it’s your race. Period.

Lesson 2: Long-distance running is a mix of body strength and mental strength

For short distance like 100 m, 200 m and 400m, you can run that with your body strength only. Because it is within the normal capacity, so mental strength is not required as such. As you keep on increasing the distance kilometre by kilometre, the role of mental strength will start increasing in proportion vis-à-vis the body strength. Your body will signal that it is paining a lot, and that you should stop after 1 km. The lungs would be gasping for air, the legs would be aching as hell, and you would question- why I need to put myself through this tough exercise? There comes the role of your mind- as you build resolve that I will improve and increase distance gradually, the body will start following the mind. It will pain in the starting, but then body will also adapt and learn to accept some pain. No pain, no gain, as great people say!

For example, at times I thought it was next to impossible to run 10k without stopping in between. But when I did it, the mind will tell the body that it was possible! So, the next time, body is ready for 10k atleast because it has already gone to that distance. Avid marathoners say that running full marathon is more of a mental game than a physical game. Let’s see when that happens in the future….

Lesson 3: Consistency is important

Running doesn’t mean that you have to win races! Winning is great but again you cannot compete with others unless you can compete with yourself. The first target is to atleast complete the race, timing comes at very later stages. And you have to find your consistency in speed. It may vary from 4min/km for avid runners to 8-10 min/km for beginners. You have to find out for yourself your optimum speed which allows you to run longer without getting exhausted. No need to be Usain Bolt in first 100m, and then start walking. Walking is good, but it isn’t running or even jogging. Also, consistency in running helps to train your muscles, other they will start to degrade again.

Lesson 4: Running is a sort of Meditation

After sometime, with consistent practice, running turns into meditation. You don’t realize when you get into rhythm after a few km, and then after that, your mind will go into “meditation mode”. It will not hurt much, and you don’t even have to think about the pain, you just have to be in sync with your aim and enjoy the run. That’s it! During that time, it feels harder to stop and start again, so instead you will continue to run and not stop till your goal in accomplished.

Lesson 5: Running is just the outcome, the background work has to be stronger

Running during an event or on your own is the final outcome. What you do before and after the run is equally important. Strength training your muscles, regular exercise, good diet, proper sleep, adequate hydration, knowing your own body, right guidance from experienced people etc. is very very important. Unless you sweat out during the peace, you can never aim to win in the battlefield!

Lesson 6: Runner’s high is real

It feels painful when you are in the process, but once you achieve the goal, then the result is always sweet. Happens in life in many things, right? The process is always cruel, gruesome, long, mundane, but it is necessary to achieve the goal. After you cross the finish line, you feel good for yourself and a prouder version of you takes shape. And yes, runner’s high is for real!

My new friend and mentor for running takes inspiration from the US Navy seal motto which reads- “The only easy day was yesterday”! I hope it is for me too!

So, happy running…. 😀