Bear pain to exceed the limits
I have been running regularly for a few years now. During these years, the distance I ran hasn’t increased much. Maybe because I never aimed at increasing the distance, Or maybe as I got better, I improved on my speed rather than distance. Or maybe I am not capable to run farther. The last thought felt like a challenge (perhaps insult). Usually I run around 3 km, but today I decided to run 4 km. And like a good employee without knowing what it is getting into, my body smiled and agreed to the deal.
Normal 3 km I ran the way I usually do – watching people, enjoying greenery, thinking random thoughts, wondering why some people are sitting when they can run and why some people are running when they can sit. The real test began as I approached 3 km mark. The distance after 3 km was an unknown territory to my mind. A voice started echoing – you haven’t done any farther before, you are tired now, this is your limit. My breath became louder and tiredness turned into pain. I felt pain in my back, it was like a Ninja fighter punching in my back, one punch after another every time my foot hit the ground. But I wouldn’t give up so easy, I kept running. Suddenly my right leg got angry at me, acute pain in the right thigh. I took a few steps ignoring the pain, but pain didn’t disappear. Maybe pain isn’t like fear which is present only in mind, Pain is real. I started thinking about the moments when I had lost (things/people/opportunities) because I wasn’t strong enough to win. The only way I would have won is if I had been stronger. The only way one can be stronger than present state is by crossing one’s existing limits. And the only way to exceed current limit is to keep moving in spite of pain. I ran further, something around half a circle, perhaps 500m.
My left leg joined the course. It was not one body anymore. Legs and back would not listen to my mind. I cannot really blame the body for misbehaving; it was never trained for such feat. But if I stopped, then the failure would taunt me in the future – “You couldn’t do that day, how can you do today”. With only 500 m to go, I turned to the most powerful mantra. I started repeating in my head – “You are not a human being, you are a machine, you feel no pain.” I kept running and got accustomed to the pain. I stopped looking at the surrounding and focused all energy on taking the next step. That was all I had to do for some time to reach the destination.
When I reached the finish line, I felt relieved. I laid on the ground, exhausted! For a moment I thought, I should do some push ups. I smiled at the optimism. Maybe these thoughts were coming from a winning mind, which had successfully passed the previous limits. I realized that limits are largely limits of mind. And if one has the will to bear the pain, there is always possibility to do something once thought of as undoable. I decided to head back home with a stronger, both physically and emotionally, me. Also, I decided to rejuvenate the body with some fish and drinks.
time for run…!! nice one..
Inspiring…as always!
@ Kshitij, Ankit – thanks for comments…someone is reading all the blogs..m glad….:)
nice one magoon… next topic “Bear the Pain in the @$$ if you exceed the limits”
Ninja fighter ke ghoonse peeth main.. haha!
Could have been easier if u had another runner to give you company, but you wouldn’t have emerged as strong as you did now.
So the question is, does prospect of being stronger by taking risk of running alone outweigh the benefits of having a co-runner who can motivate you as you strive for more
@xfactor – glad you read the whole blog and it made u think…most people choose running coz one can run alone..so you are not dependent on others and then the chances are you are more consistent…also other areas of life are lonely…leadership is a lonely sport, having a vision is a lonely journey,when u are number one u r off ur own.. hope u got the point…
its good to have company but at crucial times u shd be able to walk alone..
@xfactor – haha…haan peeth mein bahut dard ho rahi thi…jaise koi maar raha ho…
so close to the real.. i remembered DDA ground and running through it.. since talk is open.. i will suggest my experience.. and magoon probably you will be able to explain why it happened.. it was the peak summers.. may be june.. third year IIT.. me jitu along with rana etc used to go to CP and rest u all know.. then i had a small affair with Ashi there which never quite started.. then we had a sort of break up.. on an sms (today feel silly on these things).. that day.. i ran 5-6 rounds of DDA in the afternoon of June.. without getting tired without exhausting my body.. but at the end of it.. I was not bothered about any affair.. and had a couple of beers at the end of the day.. and life continued even better after that day.. my question is.. how and why body reflects in a positive way after any such run.. ??..
by the way.. above post was by me.. forgot to mention who I was..:P
Nice one.. seems u have been wanting to achieve more than the norms and crossing the set targets. So how much of it is metamorphic?
If you can’t take the pain, you are but a child. If you are not running that extra mile, you are going backwards.
A very nice one man!.. Should be made mandatory for managers.. they would have delegated the last 1 km to the subordinates rather than stretching their own limits.. hehe..
As previously suggested, now requested, please increase the frequency of your blog posts..
@ Bhind…u were running with intense emotions…usmein kuch pata nahi chalta.. thats all i can say..
@ Pranay – thanks for ur comment…changes are happening..in process..
@ Ashish – I will have page for guest blogger..u contribute to it..
@ Saurabh – Your order, my destiny..will increase frequency..
My first read…liked it…so real…
I have to tell the same thoughts to my body every time..
still doesn’t listen..
Nice one Atul ji..
after a long time i have gone through with some good stuff..
which rejuvenates my energy levels….
really inspiring one.