The Significance Of The Marathon 

by Boston Marathon Coach

“As an athlete, when you least expect it, you may find yourself standing on the threshold of an accomplishment so monumental that it strikes fear into your soul.  You must stand ready, at any moment, to face the unknown.  You must be ready to walk boldly through the wall of uncertainty.”  John “The Penguin” Bingham, The Courage To Start Running a marathon is a life-altering experience.  When you cross the finish line of a marathon you may never in your life have a closer glimpse into who you truly are and what you’re capable of achieving.  Facing your fears and doubts prepares you to experience breakthrough accomplishments beyond your imagination. Overcoming doubt and the inevitable pain of the closing miles of a marathon prepares you for far greater challenges that await beyond the finish line of the marathon.  Becoming a marathoner is one of the most empowering experiences in life.  Once you prove that you can prepare for and complete the 26.2 mille distance, there’s little doubt you can accomplish practically anything. So many of the runners that I’ve coached have expressed an incredible void in their lives after completing Boston.  Those seismic gaps need to be filled with even more significant challenges.  It might be running another marathon, attempting at a Boston Qualifier or it might be something far removed from the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.  It might be an effort to be a better person, a parent that instills confidence in a child, a spouse that is truly committed to a lifelong partnership.  Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Learn like you will live forever.  Live like you will die tomorrow!”  My appetite for learning increases as I age and the challenges of life are equal to or greater than running a marathon.  Appreciating the simple things in life, living in the moment as well as in the spirit of continuous improvement are traits that have resulted from being a runner for the past 35 years. I hope that you dream of taking on huge challenges and have the discipline and determination to see them through.  More importantly, I hope the inspiration and confidence garnered from these journeys of achievement will fuel a commitment to greater service to others within you!