Running a marathon is tough... real tough. As Steve Moneghetti, the great Australian Marathon runner once said, "I don't care who you are, the last 8km of the Marathon hurts."
If we strip away the Elite Runners and the Wannabe's, I believe that we have 6 types of people who run in marathons.
Type One is The Runner. This person just likes to run. They run in everything for fun. They just love the atmosphere and the sense of occasion that comes with running a Marathon.
Type Two is the Bucket Lister. Bucket Listers want to do everything once before they are too old. The Marathon is on the list for a growing amount of Over 60s.
Type Three is the Challenger. This individual loves to step out of their comfort zone. They will set goals and they enjoy doing something new. The Challenger aims to hit new targets every time they compete.
Type Four is the Charitable Giver who runs for a reason... usually in memory of a loved one. It may be a mother or father who has passed away from or it may be a Charity they have an affinity with.
Type Five is the Determinator. This person has a point to prove to themselves or to someone else. Somewhere along the line, the Determinator has been put down, ridiculed or has had low self esteem. They may have had a weight problem or an illness and they have finally had enough. They have decided to change and nothing is going to stop them.
Type Six is the Happy Traveller who sees the world by travelling from one big event to another. Marathons are full of people like this who just come to run, see new places, meet new people and have a lot of fun.
As for me, I have fitted into 3 or 4 of these categories since running my first Marathon at the age of 53. I tend to limit myself to Half Marathons as I get older, but the lure of the Marathon is hard to resist. I think I've got a few more left in me.
Marathoners, I have found, all have at least one thing in common. They know what other Marathoners have been through or are going through. They understand the aches, the pains, the torture, the relief of finally crossing that Finish Line. They know all about the camaraderie, the new friendships, the inspirational sights, the tears, the emotions and the sheer joy associated with achievement on a massive scale. Marathoners have incredible respect for each other and each event becomes a social gathering of runners from around the world.
The Marathon is an event you can never forget. It is hard. It tests your resolve and plays with your mind. Yet it is an exhilarating experience that gives you a high that few other things can. It challenges you both physically and mentally. But, wow... what an incredible feeling!
The author, John Kirk, is a Small Business Trainer, Mentor, Public Speaker and former Financial Advisor. He is also an avid distance runner who is headed towards completion of 50 half marathon and marathon finishes.
John teaches Micro Business Management at Illawarra ITeC, one of the largest Training Organisations south of Sydney, Australia. In addition, he regularly conducts workshops and seminars focusing on cashflow, budgeting, marketing, networking and the business mindset for small business owners.