Starting a running career or rather than calling it a career I would call a way of life, can bring many positive changes to your life. For me, it was a catalyst for quitting smoking and drinking. Additionally, running has also helped me to sleep better. In this blog post, I will share my personal experience of how my almost four-year running career has had a positive impact on my life.
Before I started running, I was a smoker and used to drink quite frequently. I would go out with friend on weekends and smoke about two packs of cigarettes and drink about 10 cocktalils, sleep at around 2am... It what just a bad way of living. I decided to stop smoking just because, there was no particular reason or objective. I just felt I've had enough. So, I tried to quit smoking and drinking several times, but I found it challenging to stick to my goals. However, when I started running, I found that I had a new focus in life. Running gave me a sense of purpose, and perhaps a sense of achievement.
As I started to take my running more seriously, I realized that smoking and drinking were holding me back. I could not perform to the best of my ability with a smoking habit, and drinking made me feel sluggish and unmotivated. It was at this point that I realized that I wasn't addicted to these two but I was connected to them in a deeper way.
Quitting smoking was not easy, it tooks me about 2 year to finally be able no to think about it. But running helped me through the process. Running gave me a new addiction, a healthier one I want to believe and it helped me to deal with the cravings that came with quitting smoking and drinking. I found that running gave me a sense of accomplishment and helped me deal with stress and anxiety.
Before I started running, I was a smoker and used to drink quite frequently. I would go out with friend on weekends and smoke about two packs of cigarettes and drink about 10 cocktalils, sleep at around 2am... It what just a bad way of living. I decided to stop smoking just because, there was no particular reason or objective. I just felt I've had enough. So, I tried to quit smoking and drinking several times, but I found it challenging to stick to my goals. However, when I started running, I found that I had a new focus in life. Running gave me a sense of purpose, and perhaps a sense of achievement.
As I started to take my running more seriously, I realized that smoking and drinking were holding me back. I could not perform to the best of my ability with a smoking habit, and drinking made me feel sluggish and unmotivated. It was at this point that I realized that I wasn't addicted to these two but I was connected to them in a deeper way.
Quitting smoking was not easy, it tooks me about 2 year to finally be able no to think about it. But running helped me through the process. Running gave me a new addiction, a healthier one I want to believe and it helped me to deal with the cravings that came with quitting smoking and drinking. I found that running gave me a sense of accomplishment and helped me deal with stress and anxiety.
The start of a journeyRunning a marathon is not an easy feat. It requires months of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It is a journey that demands a lot from the mind and body. But when you cross the finish line, the feeling of accomplishment and pride is worth all the effort put in. I was fortunate enough to experience this feeling when I completed the Kobe Marathon in 2:48. My main form of training was daily jogs of 15 to 18 kilometers. I enjoyed running alone as it allowed me to clear my mind and be one with my thoughts. However, during my training period, I realized that I needed a little bit of competition to push myself further. That's when I started running with my friend Nino. Running with him helped me improve my pace and endurance. We became each other's accountability partners, pushing and motivating each other to do better. The day before the marathon, I didn't feel like running. I was experiencing pre-race anxiety and self-doubt. I started questioning my abilities and whether I had done enough to prepare for the race. But, I reminded myself of all the hard work I had put in and how far I had come. I knew I had to trust my training and believe in myself. |  4km to go - Kobe Marathon 2022 |
race day
On the day of the race, the weather was not in my favor. It was raining heavily, and the wind was strong. I was worried about how this would affect my performance. But, I stuck to my normal morning routine, which is having a cup of coffee and taking a walk to warm up. This helped me calm my nerves and prepare for the race.
As the race began, I started strong, maintaining a steady pace. However, as I reached the halfway mark, I started feeling fatigued. My legs were heavy, and my breathing was labored. It was at this point that I started to doubt myself. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the race in my target time. But, then I remembered that I was not alone. My friend Nino was running alongside me. He reminded me of all the hard work we had put in together and how we had come so far. He motivated me to keep going, and we continued running together.
The last few kilometers of the race were the hardest. I was exhausted, and every step felt like a struggle. But, then I started thinking about how things can change in the course of life. Running a marathon is a metaphor for life. It is a long and arduous journey, but if you keep going, you will eventually reach the finish line. I reminded myself that I had come too far to give up now.
Finally, after 42.195 kilometers, I crossed the finish line. I had completed the Kobe Marathon in 2 hours 48 minutes! The feeling of accomplishment and pride was indescribable. All the hard work and dedication had paid off. I had pushed myself to my limits and had come out stronger. Running a marathon had taught me the value of perseverance, dedication, and believing in oneself.
Running a marathon or life is not just about physical endurance but also about mental strength. It is a journey that tests your limits and pushes you to your fullest potential. My experience running the Kobe Marathon taught me the importance of having a support system and believing in oneself. If you put in the hard work and trust the process, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
As the race began, I started strong, maintaining a steady pace. However, as I reached the halfway mark, I started feeling fatigued. My legs were heavy, and my breathing was labored. It was at this point that I started to doubt myself. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the race in my target time. But, then I remembered that I was not alone. My friend Nino was running alongside me. He reminded me of all the hard work we had put in together and how we had come so far. He motivated me to keep going, and we continued running together.
The last few kilometers of the race were the hardest. I was exhausted, and every step felt like a struggle. But, then I started thinking about how things can change in the course of life. Running a marathon is a metaphor for life. It is a long and arduous journey, but if you keep going, you will eventually reach the finish line. I reminded myself that I had come too far to give up now.
Finally, after 42.195 kilometers, I crossed the finish line. I had completed the Kobe Marathon in 2 hours 48 minutes! The feeling of accomplishment and pride was indescribable. All the hard work and dedication had paid off. I had pushed myself to my limits and had come out stronger. Running a marathon had taught me the value of perseverance, dedication, and believing in oneself.
Running a marathon or life is not just about physical endurance but also about mental strength. It is a journey that tests your limits and pushes you to your fullest potential. My experience running the Kobe Marathon taught me the importance of having a support system and believing in oneself. If you put in the hard work and trust the process, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
reaching the end of a long journey
Life is full of ups and downs, but reaching a goal that you have set for yourself can bring a whirlwind of emotions that cannot be explained. There is no greater feeling than the rush of adrenaline that you get when you cross the finish line of a marathon, knowing that you have accomplished something truly great. When you see your time and realize that you have crossed the line under the watchful eye of one of your biggest motivators, your brother, everything starts to make sense. It is as if all of the hard work, sweat, and tears have finally paid off. The sense of achievement that comes with completing a marathon is like no other, and it is a feeling that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. There is something truly romantic about the experience of pushing yourself to your limits and coming out on top, and it is a feeling that is hard to replicate in any other aspect of life.
It took awhile for me to write this post but it is quite an achievement in my life journey. This is extra special because I did it with an amazing friend, someone who pushed me through and motivated to keep on pushing.
Let's see if there is another Kobe marathon for me or better try something new.
It took awhile for me to write this post but it is quite an achievement in my life journey. This is extra special because I did it with an amazing friend, someone who pushed me through and motivated to keep on pushing.
Let's see if there is another Kobe marathon for me or better try something new.
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