“Somebody in the
hospital is begging God for the opportunity you have right now”
Though he may not have been talking about running, what motivational
speaker T.D. jakes said hits the spot as to why we need to be running or just
to be fit.
If you’ve ever been hospitalized, you might know the feeling
of helplessness of not being able to do what you want your body to do as every
movement means pain. You are tied to your bed. Add the feeling of knowing how
much time and money your family members are spending on you, the feeling of
looking at their distraught faces as they worry about your condition instead of
them enjoying the holidays.
If not, you could remember
suffering a nasty hang over where you vow in vain never to touch alcohol again,
and there you are taking a break from work or school but unable to do anything
else and nothing seems to cure it.
These feelings should be remembered because they make
running (or any form of physical activity) extra special. The Cinderella song
title says it all “Don’ Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)”. Of course, the
song is about a lover who loses his/her beloved and now pines for a second
chance and laments that in the end all he has is the song. With enough
imagination, you could replace enough words so that the song will now sound as
if the speaker is asking for a second chance from his body because he knows now
what he lost.
Regardless, we enjoy our body and these movements while we
can because no one can never really predict what could happen and that soon we
will reach an age where we can no longer run.
What is that age?
The oldest half marathon finisher is reported to be 101 years
old. Other full marathon finishers do not trail far finishing their marathons
at 90 -100 years old.
If we maintain it (running and fitness) long enough and add
in a bit of luck…
We never go gently into the night: we will go into it running
and kicking.
