*The Debatewise Blog
What running has taught me - part 2
Seems to me there are two kinds of obstacles in life: the ones you're supposed to be steered by and the ones you're supposed to push on through. Running hasn't taught me the Zen-like trick of knowing which is which, but I have learned there are a lot more overcomeable obstacles than I thought.Now it's not often I quote Will Smith, but in this speech he says the key to life is running and reading. Reading, well that's obvious right? Running perhaps not so. Yogi Smith says that learning to run means learning to defeat the person in your head who tells you to quit. Ignore him and success awaits.
I reckon he's got a point. There have been moments on just about every run I've done where I've thought "Cor, I wouldn't mind stopping right now". The satisfaction I get from running, the sense of achievement, and yes, even the joy, comes from carrying on.
I love running downhill, but only after I've run uphill first. It's the getting over the hill that's pleasurable, keeping going when my legs are heavy and breath is short, doing long distances with aching knees and sore feet, these are the places I now find pleasure because I've discovered I can do a lot more than I thought.
And this is the transferable skill. For those of us trying to do great things, whether that's getting through exams right, getting through an economic crisis or building the best damn debating site in the universe, it's inevitable we'll face times when we think we can't make it and when we doubt ourselves and our abilities. Running gives me a set of experiences with which to counter those doubts.
Oh and if anyone wants to sponsor me my page is here www.justgiving.co.uk/davidcrane