Euphoria
The great
Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia recently broke his own
10,000 metre world record, running 26.17.53. I can remember
back to a time when the World record was closer to 27.17 and
still clear in my mind is the phenomenal run by Yobes Ondieki
when he was the first runner to break the 27min barrier at Oslo.
Kenenisa’s
brother, Tariku, paced Keninisa to his World record and after
the race Tariku was quoted as saying "I
gave everything as I ran through 5,000 metres. After the race he
was so happy and I was so happy that we didn't find the right
words. We didn't need to."
Traiku’s words clearly reveal the
euphoric feeling he and Kenenisa shared after the race.
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele
crosses the finish
line to win the mens 10,000 meter and set
a new world record. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Congratulations Jodie and Dan
Recently I commented on how one of the runners in my group won
the Noosa Half Marathon and that my partner Susan asked if I was
chuffed by the fact one of the group members had won. I replied
saying that I was happy for Jodie but that I was equally excited
to see Dan Kelley, another group member, achieve his goal and
break 2hrs 10min in the same event.
As a result of the above comment a number of people commented
on how they enjoyed reading what I had said. This therefore
reinforces in my own mind that runners of all levels can relate
to what the feeling is like when you achieve your goal. All
sports leave you feeling indestructible as a result of achieving
but you need to be a runner to fully understand the special
feeling our sport delivers.
I spoke to Jodie a week after her race and she was still on
cloud nine and no doubt Dan Kelley was also drifting through
stages of recalling what it was like when he crossed the line.
We can all
set challenging yet realistic goals
The feeling of euphoria achieved by Keninisa and his brother is
no different to what Jodie and Dan experienced. This very
feeling is available to anyone who wishes to set a challenging
yet realistic goal in running.
There are
no short cuts
In saying this there are no short cuts on the road to glory. You
need to apply yourself consistently in training over a
considerable period of time.
I recently chatted with Steve Moneghetti and asked him why he
was so obsessed with rounding off his training. For instance,
when Steve went for a 1hr run he would always make sure it was
1hr! If he got back home in 59min and 10sec he would run
down the street for another 50min or so. If it came to Sunday
afternoon and he needed 9.5km to make his week of running total
200km then out for a 9.5km run he would go.
Steve
said the reason why he was so meticulous was that he knew that
if he strived to be perfect in training that when race day came
around he would have no reason to worry because he would have
prepared to the best of his ability.
We all have
different levels of ability.....
We all have different levels of ability and for some a
consistent preparation may involve 3 runs a week and for others
a week where the number of runs fall well into double figures.
Regardless of how often you run you will only achieve your goal
if you prepare well and maintain consistency.
Keninisa will long be remembered as one of the greatest ever but
you have the opportunity to experience that very same feeling as
one of the greatest.
The degree of speed does not deliver a higher degree of euphoria.
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