Look Heart, No Hands

Took a little time to get up to speed
To find the confidence and strength I'd need
To just let go and reach for the sky
You know, sometimes it felt as if I could fly
No doubts, no fears

If you were lucky enough to watch the NYC marathon, I suspect that you could relate these lyrics to the way Paul Tergat ran this race. Yes, the marathon is a race to these runners! Tactically, he ran an amazing race just sitting in the pack waiting until the others defected. Henrik Ramala and Meb Keflezighi stayed closer to the front of the 17 runner pack. After 17 miles Ramala, turned a 4:22 mile. Yes, that is 4 minutes 22 seconds after 17 miles! Tergat and Kaflezighi joined Ramala for the surge where I'm sure they felt as if they could fly. Running shoulder to shoulder, there appeared to be no doubts nor any fears. The closest finish in marathon history resulted, Ramala lying on the pavement, Meb limping underneath the clock and Tergat looking like he just finished a moderate training run.

The marathon is magical and is such a reflection on life. Like everything it takes a little time to get up to speed. You pace, get a feel for the road ahead of you, explore your mind and body, and proceed with caution. With more running and more life experiences you gain confidence and strength which allows you to go beyond what you thought possible. At some point you let go and know that the sky is the limit - in life as well as that elusive personal best. It then feels as if you are flying, beyond the ground and adrift on cloud nine. It is when doubts and fears do not exist. In many ways the journey is much more rewarding than the end result. We learn much more about ourselves and others during the journey. The end result is our gauge - how we must adjust the journey going forward, what we have learned and how we apply what we have learned for a better result. Sometimes we must go beyond reason and act out of desire - run with heart, live with heart. This is the essence of running - the essence of life. Look heart, no hands!