Paris: Marathon Postscript - What I have Learned

Raise your hands: crossing the finish
line. Online Trainer acts normal.
Paris marathon (10.04.2011)

There are a lot of things I learned during my marathon debut. 

1. I learned that despite knowing conceptually how far 42km is, I now know how it feels to run 42km.  I have a healthy new respect for those incredible athletes who win them in just over 2 hours.  Clearly they are freaks of nature.  Or somehow genetically built for it.  Suspicously they all seem to be Kenyan or Ethiopian.  Or Paula Radcliffe.

2. I learned that I can finish a marathon even if I do it badly.  A wise man once told me it is a privilege to be able to enter these races at all, and he is right.  So many don't have such an opportunity - whether for financial, health or other reasons. 

3. Training for a marathon beforehand is actually a really good idea, no matter what you tell yourself.

4.  It is useful if you can run with a friend who will carry your fuel, get your water, wait for you at toilet stops, and point out where the professional photographers are so that you can swiftly rearrange your facial features from grimace to carefree smile.

5. The loyalty of friends can be humbling.  Apple for his dedication to following us around and taking photos, faithfully recording the moments that count.  42@42 for those fateful Friday night bottles of red all those months ago.  Online Trainer for his remarkable conviction that I could do it, his perseverance with a wayward, irritable and grossly under-prepared virgin marathoner, and most importantly, his unwavering tolerance in the face of a somewhat poor attitude.  The Husband for encouraging me to go (in fact he practically kicked me out the door in the end), convinced I'd "have a great time" (clearly he has not run more than 7km, ever).

6.  Finally, yet again, I am reminded how lucky I am.