Sunday 12 February 2023. 42.2km. 4hours 36 minutes. 6.32min/km.
As 2020 began I promised myself I’d complete a full marathon, a birthday gift to myself in the year I turned 42. I’m a romantic like that. I had it all planned out. Training schedule printed and pinned to the refrigerator door, ready and waiting; for my feet.
It didn’t happen. I struggled to cross the distance threshold. I kicked myself over it so many times, questioning my ability, dedication and passion.
Fast forward to Sunday 12 February 2023. It happened.
A couple of years too late. Though I like to think of it as, not a couple of years too late, but a couple of years delayed and my spirit believes this for a reason. Some doors are not meant to be opened when you want them opened but are opened when the time is right. And this achievement had very apt timing.
I expected the day to be hot (and no I didn’t check the weather the night before), it was a wet cool day; perfect for running. I had never taken energy boosters on other runs (save for the usual fruits and coke at water points), I carried a couple of energy bars and glucose tablets and had no idea how my body would respond. I had a target time in my head and I had absolutely no comprehension of how hard maintaining that required pace over the distance would be.
It was a tough run and a lot of learning was had including being reminded of some key lessons from past experiences. The lesson I relearned on this run is that the mind is a powerful thing. You tell yourself you can, you probably will. Join like minded people along your journey. They will be your light beamers and will hold your hand when it gets tough.
I joined a bus aiming for the same finish time as mine (4 hrs 30min) and boy did those guys push me. They wouldn’t let me fall behind even though I was dying towards the end. They offered hints and tips on how to stay in the run. And at one point impelled me to lead the bus at 4km from the finish line. When you take the lead, psychologically you are forced to go a step beyond your physical discomfort.
Non runners may not understand the magnitude and depth of this achievement.
But the fact that my mind, body and spirit made it happen this particular year, on this particular day, at this specific juncture in my life is profound. This achievement is as much spiritual and emotional as it is physical.
Spiritual because there’s an element of transcendence. Crossing some invisible barrier that only a few manage to break and experience. Being an element in a realm beyond the physical space.
Emotional because the sheer range of emotions that come it. Joy, pride, esteem. The overwhelming sense of accomplishment. And these positive emotions could not have flooded my life at a better moment.
Physical simply because I have managed to complete it and boy does it hurt like hell.
Some doors are opened when the time is right.
I finally did it 🥂
Olga
Olga Terera 