Anyone Can Run A Marathon

A common tip dispersed throughout most material regarding marathon training, is to always remember your “why?” Whether it’s wanting to stay in bed or cramping at mile 10, your “why?” becomes your only motivating force. 

On Oct. 13th, I took part in the Chicago Marathon. When I signed up over a year ago with the promise to fundraise for a local Chicago homeless shelter, I wrote out a detailed training plan. 

With a summer job taking up most of my time and the summer heat usurping my energy, it took about two days for this detailed running plan to fall apart. 

“When the school year starts,” I thought, “my training will hit its stride.” 

But with the challenging classes and extracurriculars many of us Ramblers like to over commit to, I still wasn’t running as much as I wanted to. 

Eventually, the big day comes whether you’re ready for it or not. As I waited at the starting line for my corral to be released, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the sheer diversity of the crowd I was in. 

From breast cancer survivors to limber grandfathers, many run to defy the odds. From international teenagers to couples celebrating an anniversary, many run to celebrate their heritage or love. From world-record setting olympians to young adults looking for structure, many run for their fitness journey. 

No matter who you are or your reason for running, by the end of a marathon you’ll have taken part in a shared experience with tens of thousands of other people. No matter your fitness level or athletic background, everyone pushes themselves to complete the full 26.2 miles. 

Training is important. Trying to run a marathon without training can result in serious injury and body failure. Though it can be exciting to focus only on the finish line, it will never come without properly preparing your body. 

Though I wish I could have prepared more, I felt confident in finishing the marathon because of not only the other runners, but also the supportive crowd dispersed throughout Chicago. Chicagoans represented their distinct neighborhoods with enthusiasm — whether through Mariachi bands in Pilsen or a Drag show in Boystown — runners flew by with smiles. 

Many supporters had no personal stake in the marathon, but still decided to get up early, helping motivate strangers to keep moving. 

When the marathon is over and you cross the finish line, it can be difficult to view your time and not agonize over how it could have been improved. But then a realization comes — you’ve done something less than one percent of the world’s population has done. How can you not be proud of yourself? 

Though 26.2 miles may seem initially insurmountable, I encourage the reader of this article to consider running a marathon. This isn’t coming from an ultra-athletic or intense person, but I believe the process of training for and running a marathon can provide someone with confidence and self-fulfillment after accomplishing such a feat. 

Whether it’s cleaner arteries or better sleep, Marathons can not only improve physical health but also aid in dealing with mental health. Running by yourself can provide a person with time to think and reflect. Running with someone else can provide social connection. 

Our bodies were made to move. Hundreds of thousands of people run a marathon every year, so why shouldn’t you be one of them? If you have two legs, a pair of running shoes and some water, you’re already halfway there. The only thing left to figure out is your “why?”