The Long Haul

Recently, I’ve seen several articles use the analogy: “it’s like a marathon, not a sprint.” Mostly, we see references to life being like a marathon; lately, however, the analogy is used to describe enduring the Covid-19 pandemic. The analogy is not bad as analogies go; but it is overused and may be somewhat misleading.

How the Analogy Works

I’m no expert on marathoning although I’ve run and/or walked at least a dozen of these ordeals. For the record, a marathon is not just a long distance: it is officially 26.2 miles. I say this because I know people refer to half-marathons as marathons; they’re not. So, here’s what I’ve learned over the years of training and completing a bunch of these grueling races.

Pacing is King

I was part of a marathon training group when I began marathoning a few decades ago. Quickly we were cautioned by the coaches that coming out of the chute too quickly is a big mistake--thus, the appropriateness of the phrase: “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Tempting as it may be, starting the race too fast means you deplete your reserves for when things get really tough; for me, that was after mile 20.

The marathoning experts say that pacing takes practice. Runners rarely get it right during their first race.  For most of us, this is our first rodeo, er, pandemic. Through trial and error, we could find a rhythm. Because we’re a productivity-driven culture, wanting to maintain a certain level of productivity was, therefore, top of mind for a number of us at the start of being homebound.

Anecdotally I heard friends talk about their big plans to exercise more, or complete house projects or crafts during their down time.  Then, reality set in and we found the exhausting task of keeping ourselves and our families safe, healthy and sane, left little space for self-actualization.

Mental conditioning is extremely important for surviving the long haul, whether that haul involves completing a marathon or staying grounded during a crisis. A 2018 article in Runner’s World, which  listed tips for marathoners, seems relevant to other long hauls as well.  Focusing on someone else, finding a distraction, and building a support network are three tips in that published article that can easily apply to life in general and crises in particular, along with marathoning.  

One Mile at a Time

Like life or sheltering-in-place, the hardest part of any marathon is calming your mind and maintaining perspective. Once you start feeling fatigued, if you allow yourself to worry about how you’re going to make it to mile 26, you’re toast. I learned to focus on getting to the next mile marker.

Similarly, I wake up every day thinking about getting through one day at a time. Worrying about next month or when another wave of this pandemic may hit, sends me in a tailspin.

How the Analogy Sucks

No Cheering Crowds

No matter how grueling and physically punishing a marathon is (marathoners are familiar with bloody body parts), the cheering crowds keep participants buoyed. In life and during this pandemic, I’m not seeing the encouraging crowds or hearing the applause. Life can be lonely, as can living through this pandemic.

No Finish Line in Sight

A marathon ends at the 26.2 mile-mark; finishers don’t get another medal for running more.  Although training is usually months-long, the entire ordeal –start to finish line--doesn’t typically exceed 6 months (and is sometimes much less).  Life is way longer (we hope) and this bloody pandemic is –who the hell knows how long? This, in part, is what’s driving us bonkers: the uncertainty of knowing when it will it end. The finite nature of completing a marathon makes it doable.

I often felt irritated by marathon bystanders who would hold up signs or shout: ‘only 6 more miles ‘at the 20-mile marker. That was about the point where my body ached and the fatigue felt unbearable.  Life is NOT like a marathon in this regard. The uncertainty of the end makes us act in ways we might regret. If someone holds up a sign reading: ‘only 6 more years’, maybe we would behave differently and perhaps, make wiser decisions.

No Bragging Rights

Even though I’m one of the slowest runners I know, I was still applauded for completing a marathon.  Sometimes people are lauded for living a long life but my own mother, whose end-of life suffering still occupies my psyche, proved that living long is nothing to brag about.

Staying at home and washing one’s hands like billions of others around the globe won’t get us a medal, nor will we be able to include this on our resumes. Yes, we may have saved our lives and the lives of others, but bragging about doing what we must do, lacks the reverence of electing to challenge one’s endurance in a race.

You Can Do This

We’re in this for the long haul, one day at a time. The ‘this’ can be life or the pandemic or whatever challenges you may have. Pace yourself, work on your self-talk and focus on your strengths, not the miles ahead.