It's
been almost 5 weeks since I stopped running. In that time I've inevitably been
reflecting on something that just will not go away; will hard graft and
determination ever be enough or do I need talent for this game? I think I have
my answer.
I'm
in my mid 30's, married with two young kids, have a full-time job and have been
studying hard in the last 4-5 years as I bid to become a chartered building
surveyor. In that same time period I have taken up running and have very little
history in the sport apart from the requirement to be relatively fit whilst I
served in the Army for 9 years.
What
was the point of that last paragraph? Think about someone you know who might be
in similar circumstances. When I do, I can think of no-one else mad enough to
take so much on. Well, maybe both Consani's but I'll come back to why I believe
it may work for them.
Looking
around at big running events I see all age groups and people from all walks of
life but a closer look reveals something interesting. Without being disrespectful
to those not mentioned here I believe that most of those who take it seriously
are broadly categorised as:
·
‘the
young without kids’,
·
‘the
same age as me without kids or kids who have grown into adolescence’, and,
·
‘the
older without kids or with kids who have flew the next’
My
relationship with running has been a torrid affair, probably in no small part
due to my self-demanding and competitive nature. Looking back there is a
recurring theme; injury, illness and a dogged determination to keep trying.
Early
last year I told my wife that I was going to give the running one last chance.
So after 4 years of refusing to spend any money on running (because we had
none), I persuaded my wife to let me spend what little savings we had for a
training programme from an ultra running coach and a tailored nutrition programme from a
nationally recognised body. In addition, I invested in 'all the gear' and any
injury prevention gadget I could get my hands on and bought a whole host of
books to inform my brain.
Prior
to starting the training I was as primed as I had ever been. Then 8 weeks into
the programme just as I was beginning to pat myself on the back for finally 'doing
things properly', I got injured! Again. I ploughed on for 3 and a half months,
trying this and trying that and then just got to the stage where I had to hold
my hands up.
In
the 5 weeks that have past I have honestly not missed running. I don’t know if
this is because I am 5 weeks into a new thing which will be reported on in 7
weeks time or if I have genuinely had enough of the struggle.
In
times like this I ask myself what it is that I truly miss about running. Without
question it is the freedom of running trails and in mountains and in putting
myself to the limits of my potential. These are things I cannot do injured BUT
they are the very things I know I must keep aiming for. For this hard graft and
determination are all that are required.
The
problem with this comes when you enter events and undertake challenges which
have time limits and are flooded with other ‘competitors’. You are provided with
a tangible record of where you stand - ultra’s are fantastic at exposing you
for who you are. Excuses only wash for so long. So with the thoughts of the
last 5 weeks spinning around, I read this blog by Andy Bowen.
I
have my answer. Allow me to summerise; class is permanent, form is temporary.
