Is it really a choice?

Wednesday.

Ncpa.

9k race.

The Wettest day of July 2013.

I didn’t run today.

I found a 100 excuses as I looked out of my window at 5.15 am.

As the day went on I spoke to all the fanatics who DID run.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime run.

A YOLO run, as Sanjana put it.

So I missed it.

Its gone. All I can do now is regret. And that is of no use.

The success of a sportsman rests on his capacity “To Suffer”, even to Enjoy Suffering.

E N J O Y   S U F F E R I N G

It means learning to accept that if you have to run 21km, you have to run, be it 2 hours 15 mins or 2 hours 45 mins. You just do it. It demonstrates endurance.

E N D U R A N C E

An important word for marathoners.

It expresses a Spartan philosophy of life which is uncommon in today’s time, where the Principle of Pleasure reigns supreme.

On days when the body rebels, and the pain seems too much, you’ve got 2 roads:

Tell yourself you’ve had enough and leave

Or

Be prepared to suffer and keep going.

The choice is between enduring and giving up.

This is what separates the champions from the mere runners.

Things that you achieve with your effort, you value a lot.

The greater the effort, the greater the value.

No excuses. No whining.

Just grin and bear it.