Going the Distance - by @mariandavp

During a recent interview I gave to a Greek writers’ blog on my first novel, the interviewer asked me how my “other great love” – running - has affected my life and more specifically how it has affected my character.

No one has asked me before, however it may be the most right to the point question you can ask any long distance runner. The only thing I am proud of myself are my marathons (and a few fast 21ks). Maybe because I am not that talented in running and it takes a great amount of psychological resources to sustain the effort.

In practice, the road to Marathon is longer than the race itself. It requires sacrifices. It requires dedication. It requires loyalty. Above all it is a lonely path in life to follow. It is not easy to find friends to follow you for 20+ miles. Not to mention significant others. During training there is an awful lot of pain to be endured; all kinds of injuries in knees, metatarsals, waist, neck... [At some point I had to take out my toenails myself before a race, to avoid losing them during one.]

If you are lucky you will and get over the injuries and training hardships and make it to the gunshot. And then the real hell breaks. You may have heard of the runner’s high? Well, practically you kiss it goodbye somewhere in the middle of the race and a few miles after you meet the infamous “WALL”. The dreadful and most feared energy depletion point, the moment when your vehicle runs out of oil and crashes down. The magnificent moment when you discover that what keeps you motivated is not your body, but your spirit. And you keep going for another 10km at least until the Finish Line.

It was a long and painful way but you did it. And what a tremendous thing it is to discover this power within you. But it’s not just within you…

The most valuable lesson of a marathon is not obtained though your own accomplishment. The most valuable lesson of a marathon is obtained by watching other people run and finish beside you. The most unexpected characters; grannies, runners with only one hand, people without shoes, men dressed as Spartans and holding shields, blind old men... There is no way to describe this with words, but if you may allow me to say that during a marathon, at least for those four hours I feel I am the best I can be; uninterested in appearances, dedicated to my personal fight, proud of other peoples’ victory.

This year I won’t run a marathon due to numerous injuries – combination of krav maga and running, but here are a few photos of my past races. I had also made a video on Athens Classic Marathon of 2010 for my friends, which is nothing special and is in Greek too, but if you watch it drunk (because it’s kind of turbulent) after 8:00, you might feel inspired to run too.

Finishing

And an ugly close up

Off we go

Typical scene of all Greek runners – our proud mom waits at the finish line crying her eyes out (this is in Leiden by the way)

33km point

Finishing

Just another day, just another race (I am in terrible pain here but I’ve spotted the photographers)

In the center of Athens

And another finish

The spirit of the authentic marathon after 8:00 - the first part will be Greek to you.