I have always believed in formulas.
Rinse and repeat favorable factors, and you set yourself up for success.
As I still bask in the halo of my London marathon run and the unexpected ease with which I navigated the 42.2 Km distance; versus all my previous experiences, I’ve been thinking back to what worked.
Weather, shoes, nutrition and my preparation certainly played a role, but I have run other events where arguably these factors were similar if not better!
So the X factor that I put my finger on --- is the crowd support and more importantly how I engaged with that support.
The entire route was lined with crowds cheering, singing; and hundreds of spectators giving high fives, offering high energy food and drinks for the runners.
In my past runs, I used to focus on finishing my run, getting a respectable timing and really running within my own bubble for the most part.
This time around I was clear - the journey was the destination.
I took selfies with some of London’s best monuments.
I must have given high fives to several hundred spectators, especially children who were elated at being part of the spectacle.
The cheering crowds were such an energy boost that the miles just flew under my feet and I barely had time to think about my aching muscles.
Not only did I cherish the experience but I also finished so much faster than I expected, despite factors that I would previously have considered as distractions that slowed me down.
While I have always championed recognition, I haven’t truly been a cheerleader in my personal or professional spheres.
I am hoping this experience has taught me a few tricks to be a vocal cheerleader rather than a passive aficionado for the people that I care for.
After all, attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure :)
#adventure #run #SudhirWrites
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