What happens when you run a Marathon
So, after Eluid Kipchoge ran a 2:00:25 marathon, there is a video that has been going around.
If you haven't yet watched it, then here it is : https://www.facebook.com/BusinessInsiderScience/videos/1185460201562654/
No surprise, I have a lot to say about it.
Without further ado, here is my rant.
First of all, I want to address the issues raised in the video.
#1 : Obviously your body sweats and releases water. So, if in case you haven't yet attended a marathon, there are aid stations at every 5k.
They are not for show, people actually drink the water to hydrate. (The wet roads littered with styrofoam cups are a testament to it).
#2: You pretty much addressed it yourself. 2 words: Thermal blankets.
#3: Sitting on your ass and not running is one of the main cause of long term kidney damage.
#4: No shit, Sherlock. Any physical activity results in hunger. Again, I believe you need to visit a marathon.
The aid stations mentioned in #1, also have bananas, clementines, mandarins, gels, bars, isotonic drinks.
And 99% of the long distance running population, runs because they get to indulge in gluttony.
In my career, I have run 13702 kms in 4 years.(+ 17000 kms of riding and 600 kms swimming in the last 3 years).
Comparing it with the horrible period from 2008-12 when I wasn't running, I experienced a lot of things which your lazy non-running ass never will experience.
#1. Endorphin Rush: Ask any runner, they return with a smile after the run. Being an educated person, who happens to love science, I would like to shove a study in your face : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6091217
#2. Sense of discipline and satisfaction : Ask any person who had 1 good race in their life, how running changed their life and they will tell you how they woke up every morning, looking forward to their run.
How they checked their watch every lap to see how well they were doing and how their self respect went up when they achieved their goals.
Above all, look at anyone who has finished a marathon. They will tell you, how deeply satisfied they are after covering 42195 meters and how they overcame their inner demons & doubts and now feel a sense of happiness they haven't felt in their life.
Bonus : Bragging Rights, the farther you run, higher you reach in the tiny percentile of people who pushed their body and reaped the rewards of doing that.
#3. Sense of belonging: Runners are one big happy community. Yes, all of us quirky, we are weird, we have habits which to an onlooker might look weird.
But from the inside, you can see the birds of the same feather admiring each others quirkiness.
#4. Physical Advantages: You end up discovering muscles, you never have used before. And like any other activity, you make the muscles stronger as you train more and more.
#5. Mental Advantages: Since I started running, not only the endorphins, the state of single mindedness and peace you achieve from running has made me a better person.
You learn how patience and persistence reap rewards, as you slowly improve your PB.
#6. Life Experiences: Runners know how beautiful the outside world looks like at 6 AM or at 1 AM.
They get to see parts of countries and worlds, your lazy ass never will.
They get to breathe in the fresh air and meet the best human beings, your lazy non-running ass can only hope to meet.
Runners are creatures of habit, creatures who run despite it is painful, despite it might hurt.
You know why?
Because Runners aren't soft.
We know how to dig deep and stand tall. We endure the pain(some masochists like me enjoy it) because we know the sense of euphoria at the end far outweigh the pain.
We run, because we are risk takers.
We run, because the points you make in your stupid video don't scare us.
You can sit on your couch and post the stupid video.
And there might be situations, where we just might experience the symptoms you mentioned.
But guess what, people who never try, never get anywhere either.
You might never understand why we run.
And you know what?
We're way better off without you.
If you haven't yet watched it, then here it is : https://www.facebook.com/BusinessInsiderScience/videos/1185460201562654/
No surprise, I have a lot to say about it.
Without further ado, here is my rant.
First of all, I want to address the issues raised in the video.
#1 : Obviously your body sweats and releases water. So, if in case you haven't yet attended a marathon, there are aid stations at every 5k.
They are not for show, people actually drink the water to hydrate. (The wet roads littered with styrofoam cups are a testament to it).
#2: You pretty much addressed it yourself. 2 words: Thermal blankets.
#3: Sitting on your ass and not running is one of the main cause of long term kidney damage.
#4: No shit, Sherlock. Any physical activity results in hunger. Again, I believe you need to visit a marathon.
The aid stations mentioned in #1, also have bananas, clementines, mandarins, gels, bars, isotonic drinks.
And 99% of the long distance running population, runs because they get to indulge in gluttony.
In my career, I have run 13702 kms in 4 years.(+ 17000 kms of riding and 600 kms swimming in the last 3 years).
Comparing it with the horrible period from 2008-12 when I wasn't running, I experienced a lot of things which your lazy non-running ass never will experience.
#1. Endorphin Rush: Ask any runner, they return with a smile after the run. Being an educated person, who happens to love science, I would like to shove a study in your face : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6091217
#2. Sense of discipline and satisfaction : Ask any person who had 1 good race in their life, how running changed their life and they will tell you how they woke up every morning, looking forward to their run.
How they checked their watch every lap to see how well they were doing and how their self respect went up when they achieved their goals.
Above all, look at anyone who has finished a marathon. They will tell you, how deeply satisfied they are after covering 42195 meters and how they overcame their inner demons & doubts and now feel a sense of happiness they haven't felt in their life.
Bonus : Bragging Rights, the farther you run, higher you reach in the tiny percentile of people who pushed their body and reaped the rewards of doing that.
#3. Sense of belonging: Runners are one big happy community. Yes, all of us quirky, we are weird, we have habits which to an onlooker might look weird.
But from the inside, you can see the birds of the same feather admiring each others quirkiness.
#4. Physical Advantages: You end up discovering muscles, you never have used before. And like any other activity, you make the muscles stronger as you train more and more.
#5. Mental Advantages: Since I started running, not only the endorphins, the state of single mindedness and peace you achieve from running has made me a better person.
You learn how patience and persistence reap rewards, as you slowly improve your PB.
#6. Life Experiences: Runners know how beautiful the outside world looks like at 6 AM or at 1 AM.
They get to see parts of countries and worlds, your lazy ass never will.
They get to breathe in the fresh air and meet the best human beings, your lazy non-running ass can only hope to meet.
Runners are creatures of habit, creatures who run despite it is painful, despite it might hurt.
You know why?
Because Runners aren't soft.
We know how to dig deep and stand tall. We endure the pain(some masochists like me enjoy it) because we know the sense of euphoria at the end far outweigh the pain.
We run, because we are risk takers.
We run, because the points you make in your stupid video don't scare us.
You can sit on your couch and post the stupid video.
And there might be situations, where we just might experience the symptoms you mentioned.
But guess what, people who never try, never get anywhere either.
You might never understand why we run.
And you know what?
We're way better off without you.
Comments
Post a Comment