A little over a month ago, I issued the The 2008 Half Marathon Challenge. I invited our employees, spouses, authors and agents to run either the The Big-D Texas Marathon & Half Marathon in Dallas on April 6 or The Country Music Marathon & Half Marathon in Nashville on April 26. So far, we have 102 employees signed up. My goal is 158.
In various meetings last week, several people told me they were “on the fence.” This post is a shameless attempt to get you off the fence and sign-up! Here are seven reasons why you need to do so:
- It will get you into the best shape of your life. I’m fifty-two years old. I can honestly say that I have never been in better shape. I feel great! I didn’t feel this way eighteen months ago. Before I started running, I was twenty pounds overweight. I wasn’t sleeping well. I was worried about growing older and thought that perhaps this was just the aging process. Wrong! It doesn’t have to be that way, and I have proven it to myself.
- It will make you more energetic and productive than you ever thought possible. This is the surprising thing about any kind of exercise. You think it would make you more tired because you are expending energy. However, I have experienced just the opposite. Since I have started running, I am more energetic and productive than I have ever been—and I wasn’t doing too badly before.
- It will teach you an enormous amount about goal-setting—and the ups and downs along the way. Whenever you set a goal, you almost immediately encounter Resistance. (See The War of Art [affiliate link] by Steven Pressfield for a great discussion of this phenomenon. He’s the same one who wrote The Legend of Bagger Vance [affiliate link].) This also happens with running. However, you have more control over the variables than other projects, so it comes down to passion and discipline. Running is a great metaphor for how all of life works.
- It will give you an exhilarating sense of accomplishment when you finish. I loved running across the finish line last year. So did scores of my colleagues here at Thomas Nelson. There’s no feeling quite like it. I think I was high for days. As I have spoken with other runners, I have discovered that this is a common experience. You will find that this spills over into other areas of your life.
- It will test your resolve in ways that will be applicable to every other area of your life. When I decided I would run again this year, I created a spreadsheet. I mapped out every run leading up to the race. However, the whole thing blew up two weeks into my plan when I developed plantar fasciitis. This indeed tested my resolve. It would have been so easy to quit. After all, I had a good excuse. But I refused. I have been working out on the elliptical machine and the stationary bike. Frankly, I needed this kind of cross-training, and my injury has forced me to do it. And I am still progressing toward my goal.
- It will give you the confidence to take on other significant life goals. Achieving any important goal will help build your confidence. In this sense, running is no different. It was a huge boost to my own confidence. Since completing my first Half Marathon last year, I have noticed that I am willing to dream bigger and set higher goals. I suddenly realize that more is possible.
- It will model taking care of yourself to the other significant people in your life. I think this is really important. Whether you think of yourself as a leader or not, others look up to you. Maybe it’s your employees, your children, or even your spouse. When you decide to walk or run, you model the importance of taking care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be of much use to anyone else.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. These are simply my reasons. What are yours?
If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? Now is the only moment you have. Just by signing up, you will feel your life begin to shift. Come on. I dare you!
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I’ve started training for the Country Music Marathon. Running has made me feel better and have more energy. In turn, this has made me a noticebly happier person. A trusted coworker commented that I am more pleasant to be around. I think that’s a complement. But I’ve also found some other benefits to running that are not about health. I blogged about these. Click on my name, and read.
I second your encouragement to your group and attest that all of your statements are true. One year ago I was overweight and had no energy. I started running and have lost 25 lbs over the course of the year. My energy and attitude have never been more positive and I attribute the change in both to the exercise. It takes discipline (I run 3x/week) but it is well worth it! Best of luck to everyone in your group!
Michael – I love your chart – it reminds me of my cross country coaching days. Let me add one more suggestion, if I may, to your training schedule.
When I trained the team, we obviously were training five days a week, but one of the things we did was get in a pool and do kick-flippers while holding on to the edge of the pool and then we we run (you can use an aqua vest) for a period of time. Also, I would suggest that you do a 3 week build in mileage and then do a slight rest week (usually down to the 2nd week mileage) and then build again. The reduction gives your body just enough rest to appreciate it, while it prepares you for the next build phase – that way your taper isn’t as dramatic.
I hope this helps.
Running actually makes me feel great about myselves. You feel like wow’I can believe I ran this far or this long’ but my problem is getting started for the race but with this tips I’ve received from Mike expecially the 2nd and 3rd one I think I’ll help myself and I also want to add that this goal can work if you are prepared to run with a friend (or friends) then you would challenge each other or one another
how’s amazon’s kindle doing? my guess is not so well…major flop
Great post on the half marathon! I see your side bar has your stats at 145 toward your 158 runners – fantastic! Congratulations!
For our Take It and Run Thursday edition of our blog this week we are featuring posts of Half Marathons. If you have a moment on Thursday – drop yours off (it takes about 10 seconds) as well as look through to find a few that might be useful to your growing army of HM’s!
Okay,
I have to ask: How? When do you find time in your schedule to do this? A wife, kids, full-time job, How? I would like to see some outline of a schedule that you follow on a day to day basis. What time do you get up? What time do you get home? How many hours are you working? These are some tips for a family man that could be helpful before I launch into running. Please blog about it. Thanks.
Wannabe
Michael, Lorraine and I had a blast running the CMM with you guys last year. Can we do it again? It’s always more fun to do it with someone, and that shirt is our favorite. I’ve been able to talk to more people at the YMCA and at the track as a result of training in that shirt this year. The grace of God and running have repaired my lungs, and this year my wife has averted osteoporosis and for the first time in 3 years got a normal dexascan.
considering doing this this year. how much time would you recommend to train?
@Jeff: You really need to get on a specific plan, depending on your age, fitness level, etc. I suggest that you look at some of those I recommend in Resources for Beginning Runners (and Walkers). Thanks.
Michael – this has been on my "To Do" list for a long long time – We have the Hartford marathon here in CT – also offering a Half. It's all about deciding to do it and then getting it done. I've run races, and go to the gym every morning – but the marathon is a biggie that scares me a bit. Thanks for the inspiration!
Cindy