We often refer to things as being a marathon. It’s a convenient way of describing something that took a while or got to be quite hard to complete. If we have had a difficult journey home, it becomes a marathon, or it takes a marathon effort to get ourselves packed for the big summer holiday. Sometimes though, I wonder if that word is used a little bit too lightly and I suspect the people taking part in the London marathon a few weeks ago would probably agree.
Inspiration
Have you ever stood at the end of a marathon run and watched the tired competitors arriving over the finish line? It is one of the most inspiring things you will ever see. I am not talking about the top athletes though (although they are inspiring in their own way) I mean the people who do the race just because it is there to be done. Some are there raise money for charity, some in memory of a loved one, some with friends and family alongside and some just because they needed to challenge themselves. Some wore the latest gear, others old T-shirts and of course some were dressed as ninja turtles or polar bears. What they all have in common, and the thing I find so inspiring is that over a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards they continued to do something when it would have been much easier to stop. Not only that but nobody can run a marathon without training, so they have probably been practising for months as well.
The joy and accomplishment you see in the faces of those exhausted people clearly tells you why they did the race. The achievement means so much to them.
Inactivity
One of the dangers of our modern life is the ease with which we can fall into inactivity, and that can lead to ill health. Your career or change of career can do the same in that when faced with the seemingly endless task of looking for a new job it is tempting to fall by the wayside and drop out of the race. Of course, I could draw an analogy here by comparing the dedication needed by the marathon runner with the dedication needed to improve your career but in actual fact, there may be a more down to earth link. The training and fitness that is needed for those inspirational runners may well have an unforeseen benefit in that exercise may well actually improve not just our physical selves, but also our mental well-being. Some studies seem to show that a regular workout not only helps keep us in shape and more resistant to illness, but it may well have an effect on our mood.
Exercise makes you feel better about yourself
According to some pretty reliable sources, taking part in suitable exercise can make you feel better about yourself and even help with depression in some cases. This may be for a number of reasons but honestly, do we really care why it works? Getting up and exercising, even if it is just a little, could be a real boost to your self-worth and your confidence.
To put that into perspective, when it comes to that long-haul process of getting the job change or career, clearly, you’d rather face it physically fit and in the right mood. Our working life and careers are something we are in for the long-haul, and although we may not be doing it dressed as a panda, we can learn something from the marathon runners about getting fit for it.