Respect for the Marathon

Respect for the Marathon

Edward Ovadia

Email: edwardovadia [at] gmail.com

I now understand what some people have known for years - just how hard the marathon really is.

I made my marathon debut last weekend in Sydney, and was struck by how hard it is, and how much it exposes you if you're not 100% mentally and physically ready for it. I'm fairly comfortable over a half marathon, and enjoy a good long run, but the marathon is something different altogether.

Having spoken to Troopy a number of times before the Beijing Games, he commented that, among other characteristics, the toughest person would win the Olympic marathon - and he rightly thought he had a claim to that title. (Knowing that he has finished races with stress fractures, broken bones and torn muscles, I would tend to agree.) He said that he would be willing to do himself permanent damage in the heat and pollution to succeed in Beijing.

At the time I wondered how he could go into the race with that kind of pressure, knowing that he would have to hurt himself that much. And although there's no way I could understand that sort of pressure, I started to understand the kind of pain he was talking about.

It's a whole different kind of pain and discomfort, and you really need to be able to hurt yourself. It comes with a certain disregard for your body, in that you just think: 'I need to inflict more and more pain on my body - and I'll worry about the effects later, after the race.' Indeed Monners once mentioned to me in an interview that towards the end of a marathon, you start to make deals with yourself and your body - along the lines of 'just keep running, and get me through this, and I promise I'll never make you do this again'.

I have never struggled like I did in the marathon; and it has never seemed to tempting to stop and save yourself the pain and effort. But it's ignoring that which makes finishing the marathon successfully (which of course is relative you who you are!) all that more rewarding.

Given some conditions (inexperience, unexpected heat, pacing, and general just-not-feeling-it-on-the-day) I wasn't as fast as I would have liked (hoping for well under 3 hours, when I ended up running 3:18), but I'm just happy to have completely smashed myself.

But importantly, having done it, I have newfound respect for those who complete the marathon in serious times; and especially for the effort it takes to break those really fast barriers - 3 hours, 2:40, 2:30, etc. Even more so the elite runners, who go into every race knowing that not only do they have to contend with the marathon, but that they have to be red-lining it 100% of the way; who are not able to mentally or physically back off for even a few moments, lest they risk dropping off and blowing their race, along with any pay cheque and chance for a PB as a reward for the last six months of brutal training.

It's a tough business to be in. But, to those who willingly put themselves up for a marathon, and complete it by giving their all and acquitting themselves to the best of their ability - however fast that may be - let me simply say: You have my utmost respect and understanding; and if (for whatever reason!) you are able to wrap your mind around the task of attempting yet another one, you'll always have my support.

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