Why Marathons? (...And Thank You PPTC)
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally posted in the PPTC forum on November 11, 2021. In light of marathon season starting anew with the Paris Marathon tomorrow, we are reposting Harsha Misra’s post to remind us all of why we run marathons. Good luck to everyone running marathons in the coming months!
by, Harsha Misra (he/Him)
Over the past few weeks, I ran two marathons: Berlin (marathon #9 for me) and New York City (#10). Each one took me around 3hours:48mins to finish (+/- a handful of seconds).
I am originally from India, a country known more for a sport with frequent rest breaks, elaborate tea rituals, and spiffy uniforms than for any kind of intense endurance activity. So when I tell friends and family stuff like the above, their first response is almost always some form of: “Why?”
It’s a fair question, people usually run races to win. And one thing I am pretty certain of is that I will not win. Not the race. Not my age category. Not PPTC bragging rights. Generally not my own PR. (Believe it or not, sometimes I don't even win the coveted "fastest finisher named Harsha" title!).
But none of this bothers me in the slightest. Probably because I have never thought of these events as “races”. Race goals, race strategies, race results, race reports etc. just don’t resonate that much for me. Now... I do love listening to other folks talk about this kind of thing. It’s cool, impressive, uplifting, and inspiring. (My daughter, for example, is endlessly inspired when I tell her stories of PPTC's superhuman women: They win 50-milers, run 30 consecutive loops of Prospect Park for fun, publicly challenge Mr. Kipchoge’s world record etc.!). But “results oriented” does not fit the way I personally think about running. There is, I find, way too much of that already in other parts of my life.
Harsha in the red PPTC singlet running the NYC marathon.
Photo by: Larry Sillen
I prefer to run marathons simply for joy – with no big plan, goal, expectation, or smartwatch. And I love every minute of doing that. Here’s my "why":
(1) Running is an antidote to our “disembodied” modern lives (e.g., all day on devices). It's not possible to train for a marathon entirely on one’s iPhone. Rather, running forces the acknowledgement that we have a body, which must be maintained in good working order. It usually makes this point much more effectively than any stern "doctor talk" can.
(2) Running teaches one how to “suffer well”, something I think we all must confront at some point in our lives. Hitting the dreaded “wall” around mile 20 of a marathon -- when your body and brain are usually both beyond one’s perceived breaking, “I need my mommy” point -- is a thing that can only be experienced, not explained. But then somehow overcoming this point to successfully cross the finishing line is an incredibly empowering feeling… and one with broad, long-lasting benefits.
“Running, at least for a few shared moments, creates a sense of collective human purpose, spirit, and bonding unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere. ”
(3) Running requires patience, discipline, and commitment. There are no shortcuts to a 15+ week training program which involves doing the same, repetitive, boring, things day-after-day (I have tried shortcuts, and paid the price). Over time though, this regular routine -- rather than being a “chore” – somehow becomes a reliable source of peace, comfort, and solace (almost meditative, in that sense).
(4) Running cuts across gender, race, age, religion, political views, income, and just about any lines of difference one can think of. I have run with countless people over the years. In many cases, I had nothing obviously in common with these people. Yet running, at least for a few shared moments, creates a sense of collective human purpose, spirit, and bonding unlike anything I have experienced elsewhere. There are no “mean” marathon runners. Even those elites fighting to win always support the other guys. Just look at the NYC-M finish line. At 10pm. You will see PPTC-ers who finished many hours ago still standing (on exhausted legs) to cheer for complete strangers who have yet to complete their journeys. That kind of selfless excellence is all too rare in the world these days.
PPTC members Jimmy Leung, Anja Kremzow, Eric Cook, Yushiro Okamoto, Amit Dubey, Hideki, Dave Koch, Harsha Misra, and Samantha Amoroso with their 2021 Berlin Marathon race bibs.
Photo provided by: Jimmy Leung
So... here’s to running lots more marathons. For joy. And, with the amazing support and camaraderie of PPTC, I can truly say that running has become more joyous than ever for me. (I joined our club earlier this year after my wife bought me a membership as a New Year gift. In all frankness, I would at the time have preferred a fiesty bottle of cognac. But she wisely thought of the long game... as usual, she was right).
Thank you PPTC and take care!
PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.