Step 1: Inspiration

Running poems such as this one can provide the inspiration needed to plan a training program and head out the door when the plan calls for action. To maintain the training over a period of time, which is essential when training for a long race such as the marathon, we need the inspiration on a continual basis. All poems I have included here are by Sri Chinmoy and are meant to inspire and motivate us each step of our journey in training for and participating in the marathon. With proper planning and training, we will definitely be able to cover the marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42K) easily and cheerfully. But without inspiration we may not always feel like getting our complacent body to follow our good advice or planning. In such a case, Sri Chinmoy has more good advice:

Question: Sometimes for days on end I don’t feel like running, even though I know it is good for me. How can I overcome this reluctance?

Sri Chinmoy: “We have to practice self-discipline. It is by doing something, by becoming something, not necessarily something great or famous, that we can overcome our reluctance. It is through moving, which is progress, and achieving, which is another type of progress, that we can overcome reluctance. In order to overcome reluctance, we have to have a goal and we have to try to reach that goal. By always moving and progressing toward a goal, you not only become a better runner but you also become a better instrument of God.”

With this simple but powerful advice we can become motivated to begin our journey toward a goal. For absolute beginners, the goal may be just to run or walk up to a mile a day, or walk two minutes and jog two minutes for 10 minutes per day. For those with a background in regular running, the goal may be to increase the weekly mileage to be able to run a full marathon. Others may be aiming for a faster time in the marathon distance.Whatever the goal may be, we must first get the proper inspiration, motivating us to get out the door and start moving toward our goal.