THE PAIN OF PASSION.

Well now, please don’t get any ideas about the word Passion. Read “boundless enthusiasm” instead.

These days I walk with the gait of an arthritic. No, I don’t have arthritis. By now, everyone knows my passion for long distance running. I am suffering from the pain of chasing a dream. Everyone generally writes about pleasure, happiness and good things in life. I thought why not write about pain…a pain which gives me immense pleasure! Wacky?

I have been training for long distance running since last February…it has been on and off because my legs pain, especially the shins which are not strong enough to withhold the impact.

“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire” – Arnold H.Glasow.

From the first step in the morning till the last step when I am done for the day, my every step is deliberate, controlled and measured. An ‘ouch’ or an ‘ufff’ escapes my lips involuntarily. Every time I get down or climb up the stairs, I sweat with the effort. I am becoming a bit too dependent on the painkillers, but, I really cannot function without them. I have forgotten what it is like to be pain free. A few of my toe nails have turned blue; I have painted them with blue nail color and tad aaa! Did I say I have blisters too??

“God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them” – Author Unkonwn.

When I start off with my running practice, the first few hundred meters or so is hell. I must will myself to take every step…wobbly and afraid (yes, afraid!) that my knees will give way and I may buckle anytime, yet,I carry on. When the step falls ‘in step’…the leg and hand movements co-ordinate along with my breathing- then it is pure joy and exhilaration. I enjoy every movement of my run, it is very liberating.

“Success comes in cans, not cant’s” – Author Unknown.

There are times when my body tells me to slow down…it is important to listen to the body too else it will feel abused. So, I shut down completely twice a week, no work outs, no running, and no walking either. The muscles need all the rest to rejuvenate and recuperate. During those times, I visualize my run, mentally affirming and motivating myself and see that I am crossing the 21k mark. It feels so real that I can almost touch my dream!

“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph” – Author Unknown.

Well, I am not writing this to glorify my pain. I just want to say that it hurts you a lot more to let go of something which you could have accomplished, only because you did not try a wee bit more. It takes a lot of strength to hang in there…and things will fall into the place.

“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it” – Buddha.

No pain, no gain…just chase your dream!