Etymology: The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. (source: wikipedia)
A marathon, in many sense reflects the journey we all, undergraduates and students alike walk. Read on (the italics parts are taken from Bob Glover’s article in the New York Road Runners official website, edited by yours truly, whereas the ones in bold are my reflections)
The Start: If you are starting too fast, or surging too quickly, you’ll exceed your threshold and waste glycogen supplies. You’ll also increase body heat, contributing to dehyration which in turn increases heart rate and acclerates glycogen burning. Going out too fast sets you up for failure. Don’t think you can build a time cushion by starting faster. This strategy usually backfires. Basically, the advise you will get from people is always this, start early in your studies. Very true. However, it is essential that you do not bury yourself in pile of books from day one. Start early but go slow and steady.
The Second Half: Concentration, Mental Toughness.
This is where the race begins, where fatigue tries to capture you.
Concentrate on pace, good form, and the runners around you. Keep relaxed, and remain confident and goal- directed. Occasionally change form a little to provide relief: drop your arms to your sides for a few yards, thus using muscles differently. When you hit bad patches where you are physically and mentally fatigued–and you will–hang in there. Don’t give in to periods of self-doubt and discomfort. Have faith in your training program. Think about all the work invested in the race. Accept discomfort. It’s real. Use all of your mental resources to keep it from slowing you down. Once you reach the second stage of your studies, you will feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of information that you are trying to absorb. You will feel extremely overwhelmed, wondering what on earth you have got yourself into by choosing the path. Think about the money and time you or your family have invested for your studies. Go on with it!
Move from runner to runner to help you maintain a good pace, or “hitch a ride” when a competitor goes by you. Don’t be satisfied with just holding your place. Most likely many of the runners around you are slowing down. Move from runner to runner, in my opinion simply means that have your coursemates/classmates/collegemates/friends by your sides while you are running the marathon to keep you motivated. Some of them may slow your pace down by distracting you from your destination. Always remember to stay on course and maintain your pace at least.
Bail Out. If you are favoring an injury or bad blister, feeling weak and dizzy because of the heat or illness, or are extremely fatigued, use common sense. Bail out and look for medical help. Don’t feel you are a failure by making an intelligent decision to drop out for personal safety. You can always try another marathon down the road. If you are feeling extremely battered emotionally, mentally and physically, drop out before you go totally nuts. There is always another road not yet taken.
But if you trained properly and do not feel ill or are not hampered by an injury, keep going. Dig down deep for extra strength. Everyone feels like quitting many times; you are not alone. No one said it would be easy. That’s why so many people want to take on the marathon. But if you felt that you are mentally tough and would not be affected by extreme stress, keep going. Remember, you are not alone! Get your friends together and trash out your stress together.
The Wall. This is mostly a myth if you are properly prepared. Most likely you will experience a taste of it somewhere around 20 miles–the approximate point where glycogen supplies run low. But if you followed the Wall-beating guidelines in Chapter 21 of The Competitive Runer’s Handbook–trained well, tapered, carbo -loaded, didn’t start too fast, and took in sports drinks and gels since just before the start of the race–you will pass through “the Wall” in reasonably good shape.
The Finish. As you cross the 26-mile mark you have only 385 yards–less than a quarter mile–to go. Use the noise of the crowd and the spirit of the runners around you to energize one last push. But don’t surge too fast.
I’ve seen many poor souls cramp up within reach of the finish as a result of a sudden sprint. Keep the push steady. Work the arms and lift the knees. (hint: sudden sprint, meaning last minute study)
Keep this in mind as you’re getting close to the finish: In marathons seconds don’t count as much as minutes, but seconds can make the difference in being, for example, a 2:59 marathoner or at 3:00 marathoner. (Hmm… this sound like the old adage, one mark between fail and pass, one mark between a second class lower and upper)
As you catch sight the digital clock over the finish, use it to pull you in to your personal victory.
Most importantly don’t forget to congratulate the runners around you who helped you in and, of course, congratulate yourself on a job well done. Way to go conquering heroes and heroines! (Well said…)
So, how about that? Isn’t it very much like a marathon?
p/s: This Blogger exludes all her liabilities with regards to all the aforesaid instructions. THIS POST.. is only a statement of opinion. This blogger will not be responsible for any losses (monetary or emotional) suffered by readers arising out of the readers’ own initiatives for following the above instructions.
"子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於人。
"never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself"
Analects XV.24