Running in the Moment

I have run a variety of races over the years.  I started with the short sprints in high school, where my longest race was a grueling 500 meters.  Since then, I have done a variety of events and distances, such as 5ks, sprint triathlons, half marathons, and century bike rides.  This Saturday, I will be attempting my first marathon; my primary goal for this event is simply to finish.  If I somehow manage to run it in 4 hours or less, that would simply be icing on the cake.

I have been reading a lot this week about pacing for this event; some articles say you should closely monitor your split times to make sure you do not wear yourself out.  Others say to keep an eye on the clock, but monitor how you feel, above all else.  In other words, be aware of how you are feeling, how fast you are running, and how much you think you have left to finish the run.  To me, it means being aware of where you are, at all times, to ensure a good race.  Since this is my first marathon, and I really do not know what my ideal pace should be, this will be the approach I use; I have a target split time, but I will strive to be in the moment, all 4 hours of them, to not only run a good race, but to enjoy the journey as well.

This also applies to my everyday life.  A phrase that has been in my head recently is "be present." With my wife, kids, job, etc, a large key to success and building intimate relationships is simply to be there, and to be engaged.  This means shutting off the radio, TV, computer, iPad, or whatever may distract me from truly being present, and to focus and pay attention to the people I am around.  In other words, do not get so lost in running the race that you forget to enjoy all the moments that compose it; be present, enjoy it, and you may just be surprised how it turns out.

--kb