On the Race Sunday afternoon, you decide to check for social media posts from your colleague on how he/she has fared. There are 3 possible scenarios:
Social Media post — Scenario 1:
“I wanted to attempt the race, but I felt health is important and so decided to be BRAVE and skip it. I’ll come back stronger next time”
The posts have some 20–25 kudos with speedy recovery wishes.
Social Media post — Scenario 2:
“Inspite of fever, I decided to test my body and I am proud to say that the body works wonders if the mind is BRAVE. Happy to have completed the event!! Not my Personal best, but I was BRAVE enough to do it”
The post garners some 500+ reactions, most praising the dedication of the runner, ‘Fortune favours the brave’ etc etc.
Social Media scene — Scenario 3:
Well, there is no post anywhere but I hear that the colleague was BRAVE enough to start but couldn’t finish the race!
***********
So the question remains “Which of the 3 alter-egos is the real BRAVE one?”. Jotting few mental notes for myself as well as some fitness freaks looking for glory !
1) I am not a medical expert, but I know with experience that running marathons (or other similar events) takes a big toll on your body and coupled with the medical ailment, the recovery could be longer & painful.
2) Stick to the first principles of being a good person — Before any act, one should always place the society in front, then your family (& friends) and lastly yourself. So for example, if you are in emergency services and get called for duty to serve the society, then your bravery is valid. If you are doing it for your family (which I can’t think of any example to quote here!), then you are brave. In Scenarios 2 or 3 above, you are not even making yourself happy… after the body went through with bruises, all you get are a few bananas, a badge and few social media kudos… Except for the bananas, the other two are only for your ego and not for your Self.
3) Your mind may be stupid to try feeding make-believe things about Bravery, but primarily listen to your body.
4) Always chose Health over Fitness…more importantly never be Brave only for social media kudos… they don’t last that long too!!
5) To quote a quote attributed to Sir Edmund Hillary addressing the mighty Himalayas after a failed expedition — “I will come again and conquer you because as a mountain you can’t grow, but as a human I can”. There are many other events which can get you the social adrenaline.. Listen to your body and decide how BRAVE you want to be !!
Why did I write this blog now?
One memory post of 2015 came on my social media handle reminding me of a half marathon I did in London a decade ago. Suddenly I also remembered the year before I had to miss out on London marathon experience because I had a medical exigency 14–15 days before. Still under heavy sedation, a confident-me asked the doctor if he was fine with me running the marathon. He looked at me with a smirk and replied “If you think you are brave enough even after the meds wear off, then I don’t have an issue with you participating”… Trust me, the next week was so painful in the recovery, I didn’t even put a thought on going anywhere near the starting line! Instead I registered for a Half marathon after 6 months.
With the prime running season started in India and lots of near-dear ones registering for several events, I thought of posting this if it helps someone in their bravery (of participating or not participating)!
Cheers
Sunil
p.s- Sharing a link to my old blog where I have tried to capture my limited experiences and learnings from and for running marathons.
5 comments:
That’s a beautifully reflective piece, Sunil — insightful and refreshingly honest. You’ve captured the fine line between being brave and being sensible in a way many fitness enthusiasts overlook. The three scenarios perfectly mirror the social-media-fueled dilemma most of us face — doing something for validation versus doing it for ourselves.
Your point about “choosing health over fitness” really stands out. True courage, as you put it, isn’t in enduring unnecessary pain or chasing likes — it’s in having the wisdom to pull back, respect your body, and play the long game. Loved the Edmund Hillary reference too — it ties the message together with quiet strength.
Beautifully written and very relevant as the running season begins!
Nicely written & so true. Often large part of running community forgets that they are amateurs & mix passion with health.
The validity of your opinion matters only when you have experienced it yourself and gone through the painful process. We all together are witness to the same while we were doing our Ladakh Marathon which need not require a mention here.
Nicely articulate Sunil... Such inputs become handy when you have finished 5/10 races...!
I have personally gone through the option 2 and can relate to the article. Also the event was once in a lifetime opportunity and I could not plan it again for next one as participating next time was not in my control. One reflection I can add is that, you surprise yourself when you allow the mind to win over the body. You start loving yourself and appreciate the work that you put daily to prepare yourself for such a day. Your body remembers all the work that you have put in and does not disappoint once you make your mind. But trying to be Brave without that preparation behind you is definitely not recommended. A good topic indeed with season around the corner and well articulated!
Earlier there were only marathons happening but now a days every week one or other running event is being conducted at one place or the other. People have become so crazy that they want to participate in almost all the events. Certain organisers give special medal to those who participate in each and every event organised by them during that year at different locations.
For being fit one doesn't need to run half-marathons, marathons or ultra marathons... actually it's the other way round... if you are fit enough and have practiced well you can run these distances easily.
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