Comments on: Four Invaluable Lessons Learned From Over 20 Years of Marathoning

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:47:50 +0000

@Daniel C White, Godspeed on your triathlon. thanks for joining the conversation!

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:47:24 +0000

@Ani, Ani, You are too much!! Keep biking and running!!

By: Daniel C White

Daniel C White — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:03:16 +0000

Hey Randy, I didn’t know if you knew, but I’m doing my first sprint triathlon in August and reading this extremely helps me. I’m in my 2nd week of training and it is going awesome. I have also tried to keep the mindset of complete, not compete, but it’s great to hear it from someone I respect so much and that has as much experience as you do.

I also love the metaphor that life is a series of sprints. I couldn’t agree more. Even though I just started pretty intensive training for the triathlon, I feel like my life is in the Galloway part of the marathon. This training has brought such an amazing amount of peace to my life over the past couple of weeks. I feel more “content” about life then I’ve ever felt. Thanks for this post my friend. It comes at a great time for me!

By: Ani

Ani — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:55:43 +0000

Fasten your seatbelts it’s me again. You remember? The one who can’t reply with a short comment? Well, I’m nominated again.

You run AND sing too? Is there anything you can’t do Professor Elrod? What are you trying to do? Show off? Brag about yourself? Are you superman or something like that? I thought Spence Smith was but I’m doubting now maybe you are Superman. You are becoming more and more interesting. Really, your wife and daughters are very blessed with you and you with them… of course!

I love running but also riding my bike. I’m definitely not a competer but a completer. I’m a person who doesn’t think too much. Not always a good thing but that’s what I am so when I started to run I looked for all the information and bought the right shoes and clothes and ran. I don’t care what people say or think I do my thing and I’m happy when I’ve completed it. For me running makes my head empty after a tensed day. I have to say when I mention riding my bike it’s not for a race. We ride bike here as it’s your car. Whenever the sun is shining we go and ride the bike the whole day. It’s one of the best part of the culture of this country. There are thousands of routes to ride.

All of a sudden I had to think about my dad. I’m slow starter. When I go for a ride my friend would speed up right away but I can’t. It takes a while. But after that I’m at a speed even she sometimes has problems to stay with me. I slow down because it’s no race. But you forget it’s not a race because we are used to ride fast. In the meantime enjoying the nature. My dad used to call that a diesel. Your heart/body needs time to get on speed. So I’m a diesel.

Just had to think about how faith should be when you wrote about the magic in the castle and the child-like wonder. Our faith should be like that, right? Child-like. Trusting the Lord and be in awe of what He has done and is doing.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:29:24 +0000

@Michelle George, Ha. It is so a brain game. I would say 50% or more of completing a marathon is in your mind. Your mind screams to quit after mile 18. Or at least it does for me.

Even regular runs, my mind will play games with me. Because I have pain in my ankle at the beginning, I should just stop and go back home. It tells me I will hurt it more if I continue.

But if I can just persevere and listen to my body as well, I go on and in a few minutes, the pain is gone after warming up.

There are also ebbs and flows in running. Some days is a complete mind game. The run sucks from beginning to end. But you must learn to put that out of your mind, and start the next run fresh.

I could go on….

Thanks, Michelle.

By: Michelle George

Michelle George — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 10:03:45 +0000

i just ran my first 10km (minimalist) and have learned that distance running truly is a brain game. I'd be interested in hearing about what goes on inside your head when you run :) You are an inspiration in so many areas! Thank you! .-= Michelle George´s last blog ..Race report: Canada Day Fun Run =-.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:48:12 +0000

@Meredith, Thanks, Meredith. i definitely am not physically made for running either, but I share your enjoyment and solace in running. BTW, one of my profs was Dr. David Horton—but he was definitely not a runner. Ha!

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:02:38 +0000

I began running in college when I took a running class for fun, taught by Dr. David Horton– an ultra marathon maniac. I can hoenstly say that running has changed me. Physically of course, but more so mentally and spiritually. Running was something I thought I could never do because I wasn’t “made for it.” In addition to realizing that I could run, the most incredible discovery was that I enjoyed it and found solace in it. Thanks so much for sharing this Randy; as always, it’s encouraging.
.-= Meredith´s last blog ..None But Jesus =-.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:50:22 +0000

@@presrevdoug, Thanks. No music during my runs. But that is because I have been a professional musician my entire life, and music is too much like work. Running gives me a break from it.

Just click Jeff Galloway’s name in my post and it will take you to his site. His book “Marathon” has been invaluable and I now have created my version of a training program he lays out in that book.

No treadmill for me-unless it is dire conditions. I love the outdoors and have ran with my running clothes completely sheathed in ice.

Train easy and learn to listen to your body. Godspeed!

By: @presrevdoug

@presrevdoug — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:36:57 +0000

love this post – I think you also said in an earlier post that running feeds your creativity: therefore no music during runs? I find that to be so true. I ran in High School and never again till age 56! Want to do the Disney half (maybe full) but will need a link to your preferred training schedule as you prep for these events. I have found a pace but need to add more distance now. Any thoughts? – and do you treadmill running in winter? Will not work for me the same as outdoors.