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Originally I wanted to make a cool video about this topic, but maybe I will do that some other time (I do not have good footage of me running or anything). GO St Louis Marathon April 8 2018 So today is the day after I ran my first marathon. (Fuck I am in some pain, I think my shoe choice might have something to do with it) I do not really know how to feel besides being sore. I am happy with my time and feel fairly accomplished. But there is also this sense that there is more to do and always something next to strive for, which I have no determined yet, but am already thinking about. My time is good enough for Boston Qualifying, which would be sweet to do in my lifetime so if I can get into that that would be pretty cool. I keep thinking that I can get a better time than what I did and how I can train better in the future. I am thinking about the parts of the marathon that were the toughest and easiest and the why, how and what I was thinking at those times to get me through it. What can I do to make myself better. It was a great experience and whenever I am in a tough situation in my life I know that I can draw back at the pain, suffering, and never quit mentality from the marathon to fuel me through whatever situations arise in the future. That is one of the main reasons why I run and compete in anything. I try to learn and take valuable lessons from the suffering. The lessons that develop after reflecting from these enduring times are invaluable. Also while out running you go through thousands of different scenarios, thoughts and situations from your life and realize how important they are to you or how insignificant other things are. You draw from these experiences and you get a better understanding of what is important to you. Intense situations like a marathon help to create a stronger mental fitness. I keep telling people who ask about running a marathon that most of it is mental. Physically I knew that I had the capability to run for that long, as I think a lot of people physically can, but it comes down to the mental fortitude and strength to see it through to the end. The physical and mental pre race training had already happened, which is the tough part. Getting out the door each and every day to put the time and effort in to improve and strengthen your body is the most difficult part. On those days that it is cold or rainy or whatever the situation, even if it is not your best training day you are still improving if you get out there, both physically and especially mentally by pushing past your doubt and not wanting to go out. You have to understand that muscles grow and get stronger by breaking down and growing stronger, which is the process that we go through in training. You subject your body and mind to adverse situations in order to break down and grow stronger through the trials and tribulations. Dedicating and disciplining yourself to train and work towards a goal is the tough part. Going out on race day is simply putting together all the hard work and pushing through the pain to the finish line. At that point it is mostly mental and you have to make sure you are in the right mental state to finish the job. There was some points of the race that I was in a bad place, but I knew that I was not going to quit and stop and I was determined before the race even started to reach a sub 3 hour marathon. Now that I have ran one and I see parts where I can improve I believe I can get an even better time than what I have just ran. Just like any aspect of life, things are not just a flat line there are ups and downs, twists and turns and all things in between. A race usually goes the same way. I decided early on what my goal was and what I wanted to accomplish. And I believe it takes mental strength and perseverance to say this is my goal and I am going to reach it whatever happens. I decided something and that was the only outcome that I allowed to enter my head. Sure I had my moments of doubt and many things could have happened that could have changed that and I could have failed, which would have meant that I would learn even more and I would get up and go after it again. I just wanted to write down some of my thoughts after running my first marathon in order to reflect and maybe inspire or help others in any future endeavors. Cheerio KAIZEN- never ending continual improvement in all aspects always reflecting, learning and moving forward
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June 2018
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