Runner's high
Inge Geerdens
Entrepreneur | founder CVWarehouse.com | co-founder Your Next Move ? and Foundershub | pitching & presentation coach | keynote speaker | independent board member
The other day I did something I'm extremely proud of: I ran the Antwerp 10 miles. First time ever. I struggled, stumbled, and ran out of breath, but I made it to the finish line together with so many others. I learnt afterwards that over 29.000 runners participated and over 100.000 spectators cheered as we ran by. Very impressive. And I owe it all to a bet with the office colleagues.
I suppose that's exactly the way many runners end up at the starting line. But to make it to the finish, you need more than just a bet to keep you going. Obviously, being in shape is a good start. And practice makes perfect. However, I may be an athlete when it comes to entrepreneurship, I'm far from qualifying for the next Olympics in any discipline. So I decided to once more rely on my super hero power: being stubborn. A strategy that paid off remarkably well the first few miles...
But with just one more mile to go and the finish line almost in sight, I was having it increasingly difficult to catch my breath. How long does it actually take for that famous runner's high to kick in? I had a sore throat and my feet were killing me. And all of a sudden, as I started to walk rather than run, I heard someone cheer: "Come on, Inge! We're almost there." A fellow runner, someone I had never seen before, saw me struggling (and noticed my name on my T-shirt). He dropped his pace and started running alongside me. Just to get me going again. And it worked. We made it to the finish line together. I was ecstatic and he was very happy too, although he sacrificed his running time for me. Apparently helping me finish was all the reward he needed.
It got to me that there's something magical going on at this kind of events. Thinking about my run in retrospect, I saw a lot of people along the way helping others simply putting one foot in front of the other. Sure, a personal best time is important to some. But to most making it to the finish line with as many people as possible is far more important. It's not a race. It is the quintessence of team spirit. Most people I ran into afterwards talked about the experience, about the accomplishment, having done this together, with family, friends or colleagues. Or even with a few thousand strangers.
And that's when that runner's high finally kicked in !
Building Influential Tech Pre-Sales Leaders | Coaching Psychologist | Favikon #1 UK Meditation & Mindfulness | Salesforce Leader
10 年Congratulations Inge. Running is a great sport and particularly the races, they are incredibly motivating You mention about the runners helping each other. I had not experienced anything like it, until a recent Half Marathon in Sheffield (Google it. It is a good story). The event was cancelled by the organisers 45 minutes after it was due to start due to inefficient water supplies. However, thousands of runners decided to run anyway against police advice The people of Sheffield came out with supplies of their own water. The spectators bought bottles of water from shops and gave them to runners to keep them going. The runners shared the water amongst themselves to ensure everyone was adequately hydrated. Unfortunate to say, but the organisers kept all of the money from the race and didn't even donate it to charity claiming that they had expenses to manage. However, the demonstration here was a great example of a community truly coming together to achieve results for those thousands of runners I hope you keep up the running!
Content Creator. Digital Strategist (Bilingual) | Marketing. Communications. Design | Non-profit.Healthcare.Education
10 年I too enjoy these type of events, because as Inge Geerdens says "to most, making it to the finish line with as many people as possible is far more important. It's not a race. It is the quintessence of team spirit." To me, sports and the people engaged in them offer great lessons of accomplishment and solidarity.
I can do more. I can be more.
10 年Weather might be better in Lisbon! ;)
Inclusion & Well-Being | Disability Management | Mental Health | Psychological Safety Certified | Benefits nerd
10 年Great story, and congratulations on finishing the run!!