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Not For Wimps

Not For Wimps

Posted on 06. Jul, 2010 by in General

This morning I barely had my eyes open, scrolling through my Facebook feed when I did a double take. A “friend” posted this: “NEVER run a marathon. Just picture in your brain running one mile…then do that 26 times!”. Needless to say that made me come alive.  Real fast. I asked him if he was serious or if it was tongue-in-check. He responded back that he was serious. Now I was livid.

His profile states he is a runner (and a “muscle & nutrition enthusiast” -whatever the hell that means). Are you kidding me? How can a runner even write that comment, let alone think that? Note: I’m not saying that all runners need a marathon to qualify them as a runner. But if you say you are a runner, the first thing you know is that running is a mental game. Your brain is a lot stronger than you think it is. Most people just don’t train it. Yes, your legs/body may break down, but your head will get you to that finish line.

This comment was NOT “break each mile up into little pieces”, but “if you think about how awful 1 mile must be, imagine how horrible 26.2 miles must be”. Torture? Hell? Or the joy of finishing something that you didn’t think you could do. The pride of a job well done run.

If you have to think about running a mile ahead of time, then don’t call yourself a runner. Don’t get off the couch. Don’t feel the wind in your hair. Don’t feel the satisfaction of completing a tough run. Don’t feel the joy of running a personal best. Don’t know what it is like to run a race with hundreds of other people. Don’t be inspired by an amputee running (and passing you).  In fact, stay in bed. Judge those who do run (marathons or ultra marathons) and call them crazy. Tell yourself you can’t do it. Tell yourself you don’t have the body.  Tell yourself you aren’t a “runner”. Make all the excuses you want.  Bottom line is you don’t believe in yourself that you CAN do it.

What made me angry? The fact that the comment is a picture of what is wrong with our nation. If we think it is hard, we give up before we even start. If we think it might hurt, we don’t even consider it. Who wants pain anyway? In fact this comment means this: “if you think you can’t, you won’t”. I like to say this: “If you think you can, you will”. If I told myself to think about 1 mile, how would I ever run 31 miles, 52.4 miles, or 100 miles? I am already admitting defeat. And I haven’t even started!

PEOPLE, please remember this: set yourself up for success, not failure.

Yes, I am passionate about this. How can you not tell:)? I am passionate about running and life. If more people embraced whatever they fear, we wouldn’t have so many naysayers (and wimps) in the world. If more people think positively, they would be empowered. And strong.

When I run long distances, I honestly don’t think about the miles. I think about crossing that finish line (be at a race or a training run). I tell myself I can and WILL do it. And I do.

If something seems difficult, you are probably approaching it the wrong way. If a mile seems hard, then you need to reconsider the word “hard”. People face homelessness, hunger, legs blown off, a son or daughter dying, a dad or mom facing cancer. A family who just lost a father serving our country. A sister who is blind. A brother who is deaf. A friend whose own family has abandoned her.  That’s hard.

Running is life. Life is running. Catch it while you can.

What are your thoughts? Would love to hear what you think on this topic.

Sarah Stanley runs marathons in her sleep. And believes in the power of thinking positively, training your brain for success and dark chocolate.

Photo by: Darwin Bell

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13 Responses to “Not For Wimps”

  1. Tweets that mention Not For Wimps | Sarah Stanley Inspired -- Topsy.com

    06. Jul, 2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sarahstanley, sarahstanley, Keith M. Dunn and others. Keith M. Dunn said: What she said ~~> RT:@sarahstanley New Blog Post: Not For Wimps http://bit.ly/9Xzrfc (I could not believe the post she references, either.) [...]

  2. meg

    06. Jul, 2010

    Wow! If I thought that running a mile was hard, I would have never ventured off the blacktop, where I was the fastest kid. And I wouldn’t be chasing miles now. I go out to run hard and fast, I know the hills, the valleys, the trees, the streams.
    As a coach, I want my runners to run! And challenge themselves to run the said distance hard. And some balk at the idea, while others step up and push themselves in their runs!

  3. Renee

    06. Jul, 2010

    Wow, that is a nieve and stupid comment. Anyone who has run more than 1 mile will know that is not true. Running 3 miles is not the same as running 1 mile 3 times so running 26.2 could never be the same as running a mile 26 times. I agree about the importance of mental training that marathon and distance training requires. It takes time and planning, not just thinking run a mile 26 times.

  4. Brittany

    06. Jul, 2010

    A number of great points made!! When my friends or people I meet talk about how marathons and ultras are crazy, I tell them the first 3-6 miles are hard, the rest come easy. I ask if they have ever ran for for than an hour, outside, at a leisurely pace. Have they ever gotten to that place where its effortless? Where the cradle motion moves you forward and you genuinely enjoy yourself? No? Then don’t call me crazy, you really don’t know what its like to run. Not when its an “activity” as opposed to a “workout.” If you knew, you’d be just as addicted!

  5. Sarah

    06. Jul, 2010

    I concur as well. When people say “crazy” or a number of other words I remind myself that they are just jealous that they don’t have the courage to toe the line. If people think a mile is hard, they need to reconsider the points I wrote. Thanks for your thoughts!

  6. Sarah

    06. Jul, 2010

    Exactly. I’m still livid over this:) A mile is VERY poor comparison to what 26.2 (or beyond) is like.

  7. Sarah

    06. Jul, 2010

    People don’t know how to really push themselves. Sad.

  8. Jeff

    06. Jul, 2010

    It is not running the mile that is the hardest.

    It is getting up off the couch to tie up the running shoes for the first mile that is is that hardest.

    Sometimes the whole story is better than the condensed version.

  9. Tammy

    06. Jul, 2010

    So true. Running is so mental. If I think about how hard it can be I just stay on the sofa. But thinking of the personal satisfaction, the wind in your hair, a great song coming on as a run across the Key Bridge… those are the moments that make you know… you CAN do it.

  10. Sarah

    06. Jul, 2010

    Yep! Thats why I made those points. If you want to sit on the couch, you’ll never know what running a mile or beyond feels like. Don’t let fear stop you!

  11. Kris @SeeKrisRun

    06. Jul, 2010

    I am glad you created a blog post about this topic from your tweets earlier today. In the words of my friend @roynaim, Running is a personal journey. You run because you want to know more about yourself. You run because you want to believe in yourself. You run because you want to be apart of something bigger than yourself.

    People who have never ran or do not consider themselves runners can not form a opinion on something they don’t know. Running isn’t for everyone. I get that. My roommate hates running, however, she is fully invested in her health and fitness and regularly is at the gym.

    I think the overall theme is “Don’t knock it until you try it”.

  12. Cary Abbott

    06. Jul, 2010

    I’ve told some friends I know that just because someone wears cammies doesn’t make them a Marine. In this case it obvious that just because someone claims to be a runner doesn’t mean they are. Unless one was grossly out of shape I have no idea why a “runner” would stick with just 1 mile. Seriously, it makes no sense. I’ve not run a marathon, but it’s what I aspire to. How does one find a sense of achievement if you refuses challenges simply because they’re difficult? That’s the whole point behind a challenge.

    And “pain”, that’s just weakness leaving the body.

  13. AndrewENZ

    12. Jul, 2010

    It’s all relative I guess. At one point running a mile was hard. Now it’s easy. But I have to agree that running is life.

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