Marcia Puryear is a gym friend of mine. She also happens to be an outstanding competitive runner of more than 25 years. She often places first in her age group in just about every distance. In fact, in 2006, Marcia won her age group at the challenging San Francisco Marathon. Amazing.
But more than just a runner with a single-track mindset, Marcia has a unique point of view about her sport. Not only does she embrace the spirit of competition, but she embraces the deeper, more profound SPIRIT there waiting to be tapped within the physical endeavor of racing. She writes about it here in a lyrical, poignant, and heartfelt ode to facing the challenge and finding the victory within. I think you'll enjoy it.
Breaking Your Own Tape
By Marcia Puryear
How many times have we watched in awe and amazement how the elites seem to fly through the finish line of a marathon; arms held high in some primal feeling of supreme satisfaction, pure fulfillment, relief, and perhaps shear but blissful exhaustion? How must it feel to touch that shiny band of ultimate victory that stretches taut across the end of the course-to be the first runner, the only runner, to feel it snap and break against their chest? The touch of victory? The ultimate ‘high five’ from the gods of champions? The very first tangible, palpable acknowledgment of having done their job and done it well?
We ‘mere mortal’, but just as passionate runners, can do the same thing. Everyone of us has our own finish line tape. In our minds, we have each formulated our own goal for this mission; to simply finish feeling strong, to cut time from our last marathon, a PR, or to quietly honor a cause or person who needs support. Our tape is personal, woven from the fabric of our dreams, our reality, and our own truth. Breaking our symbolic tape can be an incredibly meaningful moment-physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is where we share a common spirit with the elites. No matter whether a 2 hour or a 5 hour or more run, we all can own that gut level felt sense of pure, honest achievement and fulfillment that is complete acknowledgment of our own job well done. As John Bingham says, “Your spirit doesn’t know how to tell time.”
You did it. You have broken your own personal tape that marks the completion of your mission. No matter how it hurt, no matter you had moments of doubt, fear, thoughts of giving up, no matter even if you changed your goal mid-race. Your mind managed these demons that destroy us; you stayed focused on your mission, the mind’s eye always keen on the runner within you, keeping you positive, alert, relaxed and responsive to your body’s needs. Your success was wrapped up in your ability to stay the course, keeping your head and legs holding hands every step of the way. This was your job, and you achieved your goal because you did your job!
You broke your own tape. You have earned the ‘high five’, the bow of respect from the ‘gods’ of champions. Be proud, walk tall, and savor every bit of the salty taste of victory. You earned it.
Run from within~
Marcia also is available for coaching. You can find her at:
Marcia Puryear
CoachLink~integrating a runner's mind, body and sole
[email protected]
Marcia has another wonderful piece on dealing with long-term injury. I'll post that next time.
