I did a few weeks ago after being on the trail for about 2.5 hours I could definitely feel the fatigue in my legs as I made my final ascent of the day. My mind started drifting as it normally does, when I remembered this poster my Dad had put up in my room when I was about 9. I could remember the title, but I could not remember the phrase that went with it. Of course the phrase is not exclusive to running, but I remember that it was at a time when runners would speak of the "runners high". I probably read that poster a hundred times trying to comprehend what it meant. The ironic thing is that I already knew what it was stating. It felt good to push myself to my limits... (the fine print is below, minus the Nike marketing stuff)
There is No Finish Line
Sooner or later the serious runner goes through a special, very personal experience that is unknown to most people.Some call it euphoria. Others say it's a new kind of mystical experience that propels you into an elevated state of consciousness.
A flash of joy. A sense of floating as you run.
The experience is unique to each of us, but when it happens you break through a barrier that separates you from casual runners. Forever.
And from that point on, there is no finish line.
You run for your life. You begin to be addicted to what running gives you.
Beating the competition is relatively easy.
But beating yourself is a never ending commitment.
3 comments:
Unbelievable
Just Believe it and Enjoy it
When my father was in his 20's he was a road runner who keep a journal with all of his runs, the distances, weather conditions, and times. He also had all of his bib numbers in a photo album. He had a goal to one day run a marathon. Once my two older brothers and I were born, he started coaching all of the sports we were into and never missed a game all the way through high school. Unfortunately, his running stopped and his goal of running a marathon disappeared. Five years ago he was up to 230 lbs and couldn't run one block without being out of breath and his knees hurting. Finally, when he was 50 yrs old his Dr. told him that he needed to lose weight because his blood pressure and cholesterol was too high. My father started walking everyday and slowly the lbs came off. Once he was in better shape I entered him a one-mile walk/run so that he could get back to the race day environment. Needless to say he ran in the race and was addicted again. He brought his weight down to 150 lbs and at age 54 he ran his 1st marathon in 4:05.30. But his goal was to do it in 4 hrs. So on March 16, 2008 he ran his 2nd 26.2 miler in Virginia Beach and did it in 3:53.30. Words can't explain how proud I am of my father. The reason why I'm sharing this story is 1) because I think he is an inspiration to us all and 2) in his journals that he keep, he had the Nike ad that you have posted, There is No Finish Line. When I was in high school I took that ad from his journal and hung it up in my room for inspiration because I was a cross-country runner. Now we cannot find the ad anywhere. My dad and I have searched the web everywhere to find it and now I finally did. I was wondering if anyone out there could point me in the right direction on where to get my hands on this Nike ad again. I appreciate any help I can get. Thank you.
Never say never and remember:
There is No Finish Line!
I remember the moment in my life when I "broke through the barrier" and became one of the "running addicts". I was training for the OK City Marathon in 2002.
When I get a runner's high I write Nike ads in my head.
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