Sunday will mark the advent of yet another London marathon. Potentially 46,000 runners, both serious and fun, will line up to start the gruelling 26 (and a bit) miles. Months of training will have been finely honed to culminate in the event of the year for many runners.
There will be blisters, dehydration, heat-stroke, exhaustion, torn muscles, sprains and many other miseries along the way for a large proportion of the entrants. However the one thing that they will virtually all have is a sense of satisfaction at the end of the race. The fact that they have completed what is a major challenge for a lot of people.
While marathons worldwide seem to have become more about sponsorship and a few elite athletes dominating the news and attention, don't forget all the other people. People like you and me who don't have the luxury of a personal trainer or sponsorship allowing them to spend their lives training for events. People having to slog away in an office or factory to make ends meet, then getting out there training, after the day job has ended.
These people are the real heros, they find the time to train outside of the normal working day, and they have the motivation to do it even when the day's been tough, the kids have thrown tantrums, and their spouse (of either sex) is hormonal.
If they can do it then you can too. No, I don't necessarily mean run a marathon, I mean that you can make some time to exercise. You don't have to be training to run 26 miles, set your goals a bit lower. Aim to train to run 1 mile first, cycle 5 miles, or swim 10 lengths, then double your target, and double it again. Keep on raising your target on a regular basis to push yourself that little bit further each time.
Before you know it you'll be leaner, fitter and healthier, you'll have a more positive body perception, and all those endorphins racing around your brain from exercise will banish stress and depression, and put a real smile on your face.
So take encouragement from Sundays London marathon, you don't have to train to run 26 miles, just make a realistic target for some form of exercise and keep revising it upwards as you improve.
If 46,000 people running through the streets doesn't make you want to achieve something too then look at it this way, do you want to be a slug all your (possibly shorter) life?
Caution: As with all exercise, if you haven't exercised for some time, or if you have any medical conditions, you should see your physician first for a checkup. Tell them what you are planning to do so they can advise based on any medical history you might have.
