Life and Success Lessons from Running 90 Kilometre and 56 Kilometre Ultramarathons and

Running has been part of my lifestyle since my second year in high school. I say lifestyle because I never really got interested in running for competition as an athlete even at school. I found running for the sake of running, without any pressure, a good thing. When I started I never thought about the benefits of running because my body is small and I have no weight issues to worry about. Part of my getting running in high school was an inspiration by English teacher who did a lot of running. But when I got into it I realised that running made me feel good. First I was doing something that people of my age and community was not doing. Second, I just thought that running was a good thing to brag about, unlike your academic performance. I was a gifted student but I found it very hard to talk about it or even show it. Second, finished my run always gave me a sense of accomplishment. Third, and may be most importantly, there was this feeling that I felt after running and taking my bath. It is this feeling that has kept me running. Running is addictive by the way. You gotta be careful once you start running.

In 2018, I got my brother Phillip Mataranyika asked me If wanted to run the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. I said yes and he offered to chip in with all what I needed to participate in the race. He also offered to do the same if I wanted to run the Comrades Marathon. All these racing events take place in South Africa every year; the Two Oceans in Cape Town and Comrades Marathon betwen Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year. I have 56 Kilometre Two Oceans and the Comrades Marathon Twice each, back to back. I was only stopped by Covid to go for the third and I am planning to go for more. I completed all the races.

Talking about the 90-kilometre ultramarathons, I took 11 hours 54 minutes for my first ultramarathon and 9 hours 40 minutes for the second. For the first one I survived by 6 minutes because you are given 12 hours to complete the 90 kilometres. Look at the difference with my second race! The difference is very big. How would you explain that big difference? Here are the lessons I learnt with this big events;

The Importance of Preparation

Appropriate training is a must for improving performance. Mental preparation is good but no amount of mental preparation or intellectual preparation can replace physical preparation. My performance improved drastically in my second attempt because I ran more kilometres than during my preparation for my my first attempt. I also improved on my diet and my running strategy. Apart from poor physical preparation, I also made the mistake of trying to go too fast during the marathon and experience a series of serious cramps that almost made me quit the marathon just after half the distance. I had to finish just because I became stubborn and vowed to fight to the end.

The Mind Body and Spirit Thing

One of the greatest lessons I took was the mind, body and spirit dynamics when you are facing a tough situation. When you start the marathon, it is the body that is doing most of the work. As you progress, the body tires and almost packs and the mind takes over. As you continue the mind also tires and gives in and the spirit takes over. In other words, you start with the body, pushes through with mind and the spirit wins the marathon.

Focus on Your Own Game

In my first ultramarathons, I made the mistake of trying to have running mates that I met during the marathons. These were people who had trained their own way, had their paces and goals and strategies. I tried to match them and, in the end, I lost because I tired myself quickly while they were still going. So during my second marathons, I decided to have run my own marathon my own way. Instead of trying to run with some running mates, I load my phone with music and played my music and it worked.

You Can Never Know Whether Your Can or Can't Until You Try

Before we for the 56-kilometre and 90-kilometre marathons I never ran a 56-kilometre or 90-kilometre ultramarathon to see if I could do it. The organisers of the ultramarathons only expect you to have run a recent marathon within a given time frame, not the full ultramarathon that you want to run.

Many times we underestimate what we can do and chicken out from trying it out. If I had not thrown myself into it, I would have never known if I can do 90 kilometres in within 12 hours. Now I am sure I can.

Doing it Versus Reading About it

Knowledge is important as much as it helps in making the right decisions, doing the right things and doing things right. However, at end of the day, it is doing it that makes it. I could have read the best books about how to finish an ultramarathon and master the theory, but the theory would be useless if it did not talk about the importance of physical work and I did not then go on and start running as part of my preparation.

Dreams Come True But in Ways that You Do Not Always Expect

Before my brother Phillip suggested he would provide all the support I needed to run these two races, there were times when I watched these two premier races and wished that one day I would participate in them. I had no idea one registers and also any of the logistics that are required. Years later, Phillip suggests that if I wanted to get involved in the marathons he would help me make it happen. It came when I never expected it and for sure the dream came true.

I concluded from this that a dream has a channel(s) through which it comes true but you will never know for sure who is your channel or channels through which your dream will come true. There is also one thing. Phillip suggested ultramarathons not from the blues, but from realising that I enjoyed running and that way he was supporting my "passion."

I also learn't from this that a goal and dream are two different things and they are achieved using different methods.

Running is Good

Exercise is a great thing not only for physical health like weight control and managing hypertension. Running is good for the brain and for mental wellbeing. It is easy to do because you do not need any specialised equipment or room. You just need simple running shoes or you can even do barefoot running. You can run any time anywhere. Start it and you will love it if you persist and overcome the first few days of adjusting to a life of running.

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?Simon Bere, 2024