Running the Fastest Marathon

In 2010, after visiting Uganda and seeing the water projects that World Vision was facilitating, I began a journey to run half-marathons and marathons as a way to raise funds for clean water with Team World Vision. Since then, I’ve run at least one half-marathon every year, and most years, I’ve run a full marathon, too, and asked sponsors to donate to the cause of clean water in Africa. Chances are, if you are reading my blog post, you may already know about my commitment to the clean water cause. This blog post is not about the cause. This is what I’ve learned along the way.

Every year, every season, I do the training. Well, most of it. However, I’ve only had one full marathon that I completed and completely enjoyed. It was my fastest marathon at 4:00:02. I averaged a 9:09 pace for twenty-six consecutive miles. I can’t believe it. It seems totally ludicrous.

How did I do it? The year before my fastest marathon, I had run my first marathon, and when I committed to run the LA Marathon again, I knew that I had to do better in my training. In a very simplistic exchange, I asked myself how I could do better. You know who really understands a topic, a subject? It’s not the one who submits himself as a student. It’s the one who commits to be a teacher. You know how I could do better at running a marathon? By being in better shape. You know how I could be in better shape? By teaching fitness.

Yep. That was my conclusion and my commitment. I got certified to teach a group fitness class, a format called R.I.P.P.E.D. that featured a high intensity interval training (H.I.I.T.) formula. That year, I taught a demanding one hour fitness class every week — but not just once a week — one to three times a week, on top of my running workouts. When the L.A. marathon came around, I sailed through the course. Those 26 miles glided by underneath my feet.

One lesson I’ve learned is the value of resistance. Funnily enough, the R in R.I.P.P.E.D. stands for resistance, as in lifting weights. In life, resistance means fighting through the discomfort, inconvenience, and pain of experiences when things don’t go your way. It means continuing your trajectory even when forces are against you, or seem to be against you. Because of the weight training that I put in during that year in group fitness classes — from squats holding dumbbells to bicep curls — I had more strength. I held up better during training runs. I completed all my training. And, during the demanding marathon training schedule, I had far fewer injuries.

Another lesson I’ve learned is consistency. The secret of running is consistency. You can’t be a good runner from one good workout. You need to consistently get out and get those good workouts in, day after day. You can’t be a great runner from a series of good workouts and the occasional great workout. You need to consistently eat, sleep and plan to create opportunities for great workout after great workout. Because of my commitment to teach fitness classes, I showed up for my students. Because of that consistency, I had more strength and stamina and was able to consistently complete my training runs. On race day, the consistency paid off.

Some closing questions for us to consider:

What am I currently being consistent in?

How am I dealing with resistance in my life? Am I pushing through or avoiding it?

How do both my consistent habits or practices and my reaction to resistance align with my goals and dreams?