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My Journey to the Marathon (9):
The Anticipation

"When you cross that finish-line, no matter how slow or fast, it will change your life forever."

Dick Beardsley's words in the documentary "Spirit of the Marathon", which I had the opportunity to watch yesterday, courtesy of a friend who has kindly lent me the DVD.

The documentary follows five different runners, coming from very different backgrounds, as prepare for the Chicago Marathon. It captures all the drama, aura and magic surrounding the legendary Marathon race.

And I couldn't have watched it at a better time. The anticipation has now fully kicked in, and next Sunday's run is the only thing on my mind. Actually, it has been on my mind for a year and a half now, but suddenly it seems very close, too close maybe.

It's not that I don't feel prepared. The schedule was tough and intense. It took hours of time, hundreds of kilometres of terrain, and a great dose of sacrifice and determination. As the end of it approaches, I realize that I have learned so much about myself just by training for the Marathon, that I think everyone should try to do it at least once in his life.

But there's still the knowledge that no matter how much an experienced runner you are, how you'll feel on race day is always an unknown. No matter how much you trained, no matter how much you ran, no matter how strong you are, once you reach the 20th mile you know it's going to hurt. And from the two over-twenty mile runs I did in my preparation (one 20-mile run and one 22-mile run), I know it will hurt...a lot. As Barry Magee had once put it: "Anyone can run 20 miles. It's the next six that count." Because probably in the last six miles, it's more the mental preparation which counts rather than physical one. And that is always harder to prepare.

So as the day of reckoning approaches, I'll keep Beardsley's words in mind, and hope that by next Monday, when the runner will have made way to the marathoner, I will finally understand their full meaning.


I am running the Marathon for Inspire Malta (www.inspire.org.mt). To support my run and make a donation for this charitable institution, send an SMS to one of the below numbers, with the text "Mark Sammut, Malta Marathon". Thanks in advance on behalf of Inspire.
50617359 - €2.33; 50618080 - €4.66; 50618926 - €6.99; 50619215 - €11.65 

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