The marathon journey – part three
This is part three of the marathon blog, if you missed the first two parts you can find them here:
Why run? It’s a question I’m often asked. What’s the point? Haven’t you got anything better to do with your time?
It’s a fair question. But one with an easy answer. And that’s why not? Everyone is different, it’s what makes the world what it is. My argument is everyone should have some form of hobby or pastime. It honestly doesn’t matter what it is! Fishing, sport, stamp collecting, whatever, it’s just has to be something you enjoy doing. I can recall as a youngster my first real hobby was astronomy, I still have an active interest to this day, but the problem I found with it then was that every time I wanted to observe, the weather had other ideas! It’s what drove me towards Amateur Radio, something you can do indoors, anytime regardless of weather. Running is something I’m quite happy doing any time of the year, whatever the weather. As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. I’ve running gear to suit almost all weathers.
Both with holidays, and work, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many countries around the world. I always make a point of trying to have a run wherever I am. I have some wonderful memories of running around Helsinki in midwinter taking in the sea views, running down the embankment of the River Yarra in Melbourne towards the MCG and probably one of my favourites, running around the coastline in Gibraltar, such fantastic views. The Gibraltar run did present a challenge, unless you have special powers and can walk on water, the only way to get around the SE part of the peninsular is through a tunnel, which clearly states no pedestrians. I wasn’t for turning back so pressed on. Only to be stopped by the police asking what I was doing. I explained I was visiting from England and wanted to run all around the coast and that this was the only option. I was simply told to ‘carry on’.
Running is just something I do now. I do it because I enjoy it, the fresh air it brings and ability to switch off from everyday life, relax and take in the view. It also has the benefit you really do start to think of things that normally you may not have time for otherwise. I’ve often come up with solutions to problems while out running, the only snag is as I get older, by the time I’ve got back home I’ve forgotten what that solution was!
As for the journey, yesterday I’d just completed 10k of the 26.2 miles. In today’s instalment, I’m about 15 miles in and have decision to make.
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