MYPRODUCT57 1 Marathon, 11 Half Marathons. The Tip of the Iceberg

1.Situation

Some people like to go fishing. Others to cook, to ride a bicycle. To collect stamps. Or to do mountain hikes.

2.Task

In 2010 I discovered long-distance running. But what is the motivation and pleasure to run a marathon or half marathon?

3.Action

In my case it all started with a dream. The one to tick a marathon run in my life.

If you think it is easy to run 42km I say you will cheat. For two reasons.

Firstly the race itself is a continuous struggle of mind and body to cross the finish line. There are moments when the body is about to lose this battle and only the mental ambition makes you step one step ahead of the other.

In my case at km 36 I felt this battle.

Secondly, marathon training is crucial. In fact, running a marathon without training is pure unconscious.

The first step was to diet, control food and reach an optimal weight because each extra kilo is ballast that erodes your body.

Then follow the training stage. I followed a 20 weeks workout with 4 weekly runs based a clearly defined schedule:

-3 runs of 4-7km and a peak of 9km

-3 runs of 7-10km and a peak of 15km

-3 runs of 10-12 km and a peak of 15 km

-3 runs of 12-15km and a peak of 18km

-3 runs of 15-18km and a peak of 22km

-3 runs of 22-25km and a peak of 30km

Last but not least, the purchase of professional equipment is required: running shoes, jerseys, trousers, socks, etc. Because when you run long distances you feel even an imperfect stitch in a normal sock.

In conclusion, long distance runs involve effort, time and money.

4.Results

So in 2010 I ran the first marathon in my life in 5 hours and 20 minutes.

Then I continued to run and on 13 May 2018 I finished the 11th official half marathon (21km) in 2 hours, which is a personal record.

And beyond these official events, I gathered thousands of kilometres ran simple by pure pleasure.

5.Key Leanings

I discovered that running for me is a conscious exit from the comfort zone, a spring of relaxation, a professional routine escape, a socialization occasion, a measure of ambition, a moment when I clarify my current projects and future plans.

And perhaps the most important a source of health, balance and enthusiasm.

Notification: MYPRODUCT reflects my real professional experience and expertise as well as my subjectivity. I do have a profound respect for all the companies I collaborated to and for all the people I worked with. It is not my intention to approach any sensitive, confidential or offending information related to companies, projects or people. If you the reader deduct or recognise companies, projects or people in my examples, I kindly ask you to respect MYPRODUCT and my professional and ethic approach and to not share any detail, information, situation, name, company.