“I don’t see myself as a fantastic, talented athlete.  I just have perseverance.  I’m a cart horse.  I work hard.”  Colleen DeReuck- Olympic Athlete

In my book blog, anyone who has competed in the Olympics is certainly both a fantastic and  a talented athlete.  While this runner is obviously humble, I love her analogy of endurance training to the plight of a persevering (continuing in a course of action even in the face of difficulty) cart horse (a strong horse bred to draw heavy loads).  Since motivation is key to marathon training, what keeps regular, non elite mares like me going?

I know that motivation needs to come from within, but find it difficult to articulate exactly what inspires me.  Sometimes I’m on automatic pilot- I schedule my workouts and runs and complete them without so much as a second thought.  But other days, I pause and wonder why I’m bothering to work so hard.  These are the days I focus more on my short comings than my accomplishments.  My critical mind overpowers my corporeal cart horse.  I discover my reflection in  the gym mirror and my commitment wilts.  But something bred in me, makes me stay and finish the hour long class.  Something makes me keep sprinting on the treadmill and working my way through circuits.  Something urges me to continue, to push through wavering confidence and a depleting body.  But I can’t say what it is.  

 

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