The Believer

I had a lucky miracle to stumble upon a wee gem of a magazine, called the Believer.  It has articles on the most interesting things, mainly literature, and ponderings about said subject, but through it I learnt all about the Barkley Marathons, and that has continued to consume my mind for the rest of the weekend.  It is an amazing event.  The sort of thing, that it takes one a lifetime to know about.  I feel privileged to have discovered such a race.  Even though I would never dream of partaking in such an event.

<http://www.believermag.com/issues/201105/?read=article_jamison>

here is the amazing article that goes into such beautiful and gruelling depth of the race. But yet, light enough that it leaves you longing to pack out to Tenessee to witness it all.

Although the course of the race was absolutely fascinating, and the feats they had to overcome were mind-blowing, I found myself trying to understand their psyche more than anything else.  WHY would you put yourself through a 100 mile race, not just any 100 mile race, but one through an elevation that is twice of Everest, where you could get lost at any moment, where rats and vipers were not a possibility but an annoyance, and where one has to be sane enough amidst it all to find nine to eleven books hidden within infinite miles of dense foliage to prove completion of the race!?  I find it highly satirical that a 60 mile run (3 loops of the race) is called a 'Fun Run'.  Not so much, eh? Oh and did I mention that the third and fourth loops must be run backwards, and the fifth loop is your choice?  If you haven't casually quit, been eaten alive, or lost your mind by then.

I was truly in awe.
I still am, don't get me wrong. These men (and women) I thought, must be crazy.  I understand the whole notion of pushing yourself to the limit, and yes, the limit fluctuates from person to person.  Also I understand the feeling of completion, of believing in yourself, but this is one step further altogether.  Only nine people have completed the race since its indoctrination in 1984;   think about it - a race inspired by the man who tried to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr and the route he took on his breakout run from jail. Am I right in finding that slightly twisted?  I'm surprised that no one has brought that up before as insensitive.

Whatever it is, it made me realise something; I have brought it up to myself many times before, but the role of the mind in situations like these.  Mental over physical, always.  I am reminded of the epic match recently between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.  Roger seemed like a shoo in to win, being 3 match points up, and Djoko 2 sets down.  But somehow, against ALL odds, Djoko came back to win the championship...and we can stand around scratching our heads but you know when it comes down to it Djokovic put his mind to its best to beat the legend who used to be No.1.

This also reminded me of my KL Volleyball tournament - we just didn't gel together as well as we could've.  Granted, we were up for a bit of experimentation, and we didn't know each other or trust each other as we should - but I guess that's part of the learning process, and learn from it we shall.  As for mind over matter, it's very true.  I know there were points during a match where I felt, this is it, I can't run much further than this, and so I would watch in disbelief as the ball dropped inches from my feet as I made a vain attempt to shuffle towards its trail.  But there were other times, where I felt the energy tapping in my toes, and I could deflect anything with a dig, roll or spike.  And it just goes to show.

Am I an ultramarathoner?  No siree.  I don't think I have the motivation for that kind of run.  Nor could I believe in myself to do something like that.  Maybe one day, the thought will cross my mind.  Never say never.  For the people that do these things, it's them against themselves, the pressure is off for those around them.  They are fighting those inner demons I believe, when they run.  A friend of mine, told me that he engages in certain hobbies and activities because no one else does them - therefore there is no pressure between each other to be the best - and it's true, trying to be the best is putting a lot of pressure on yourself, but then can you drive yourself without others rallying around you?  I couldn't see it before, but now the answer is clearly, YES.  So much of us around us is self induced.  It's amazing that we don't see it.  Like the choice to be happy?  If we objectively look at everything that stresses us out, 95% of the time, it is unnecessary - we are choosing to be stressed over it.

Again, the Barkley's Marathon is not my cup of tea, but I would consider myself extremely lucky should I ever be one to witness it.  I shall gladly put it on my list of things to see/do before I die.  Would things be different if everyone stopped to take time to think about how they affect themselves in their own minds?  Very much so.