One thing I enjoy doing is, going to the Toastmasters meetings and participating. I have been an active Toastmaster for sometime now and that has really impacted my public speaking and leadership abilities in a positive way.
It was a funny moment today when I was asked to speak about my favorite game in the Olympics and I was kind of not up-to-date with the progress today. I had to admit and everybody laughed!
However, one of the speakers, shared the history of the Olympics. He shared how it all started and how slowly it evolved in today's form of game where 28 games and more than 300 events are being organized in London as I write this post. I felt that was an amazing story!
But one thing the speaker pointed out was, the importance we give to the people who come 1st, 2nd and may be the 3rd position and virtually nobody gives any attention to rest of the contestents who didn't get to these ranks. Obviously that is the nature of the games where either you win or you lose. This talk however, provoked some thoughts and I realized how we program ourselves to see everything in 'black or white' way! We start to see life in the same way and grade people and ourselves either as a winner or a loser.
However, I think my favorite sport is the Marathon. Out of all the sporting events, this is the one I relate to the most even though I've never tried to run a Marathon so far though I aspire to. I think this is the only game that really resembles life. This is the only game in which nobody loses until they quit. I think that is an awesome deal.
In Marathon, everybody wins in the end as long as they do not give up in between. You can never lose if you just don't quit! [tweet this]
Wow! What an amazing sport! In the game of life too there are no losers – yes there are quitters! People who have a winning attitude, who can go from failure ro failure, struggle to struggle and not give up, eventually come out winning in flying colors. There are numerous success stories full of great people who exactly demonstrated that. On the other hand, there are also stories of the people who gave up when they were so close to the victory!
What better game than Marathon? What better inspiration than an inspiration to stay consistent, to persevere to finish the race? Yes, the Marathon is my favorite Olympics game!
"The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon." —Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder
Now, the Olympic marathon athlete, Guor Marial is ready to challenge the world's greatest long-distance runners on Sunday. Guor Marial represents no country, no sponsor and he does not even have a coach. But what he has is, the courage. He has the courage to bid for the gold at the London Olympics 2012 this Sunday!
Marial's story would be inspiration for any athlete, as his only training regime in the past has been running through the desert with hardly any water or shelter. Marial is a tough survivor of a 20-year civil war that left two million dead, including eight of his 10 brothers and sisters. He ran from Sudanese soldiers who attacked and burnt his village, an army officer who kept him as a slave and Arab nomads.
His country, South Sudan is the world's newest country which won independence in July last year that has no Olympic committee so far. Marial has one well-worn pair of running shoes, and works all night to earn a living. He has secured a place alongside the world's greatest long-distance runners on merit, and the U.S., British and Olympic authorities have gone out of their way to help him.
His achievement of securing his spot in Olympics itself is absolutely remarkable and inspiring that has added another feather in the cap for this incredible game!
"I used to hate running. I was running back home to save my life", Guor Marial said to The Daily Mirror.
I am intrigued to see what happens this Sunday in London when this Marathon begins. I am excited to be inspired by watching Guor Marial show down!
Question: What is your favorite game in Olympics? Who is your favorite sports star? What do you think of the story of Guor Marial's life?
Yes, the Olympics 2012 is very exciting specially since boxer Vijender Singh, badminton sensation Saina Nehwal and tennis duo
Leander Paes and Sania Mirza managed to keep the Indian tricolor flying
high.
The story of Guor Marial is very inspiring. I am not curious for Sunday too. Thanks for informing.
Thanks Aparsh. We are so very proud of Saina Nehwal and Vijender Singh, Leander Paes and Sania Mirz too. That have done a great job!
Bill Rodgers said, “I always say if the marathon is a part-time interest, you will only get part-time results.”
So is the case with life. If you give it all you got, you get all you wanted. Have a dream, stay consistent and prepare to win. Success in life happens when we decide not to give up.
Looking forward to Sunday Marathon…
I’m impressed with your true talent for writing. It’s great to find a great article. I was motivated to tell you I appreciate your work.
I agree with Eka, you’re article is very impressive. Indeed life is a marathon. It is a series of challenges that you need to reach from one point to another. The father you go the harder it goes until you successfully reach the finish line.
I agree with you Gaurav.
Running a marathon has completely different experience. Its something similar to life where people get a lot of up and down and reaches to accomplish their goal. Similarly, in Marathon with sometime low and high speed, participant finally reach the goal and win.
No doubt it should be a great sport.
I totally agree with you Gaurav. Life Is Like Running A Marathon
Love your site. Nice design
Nice article, I’d like to think that my life will end up as a marathon and not a sprint, It’s all about enjoying the journey wherever it takes you.
That’s true! Though life is a maranthon only we see ups and downs all the times. Meaning victory and failure depends on our efforts and time.
This is so true.
There are lots of other things like setting goals but not quitting is the primary and the most hard thing to do.
To refuse to quit is something that I learned a year back.
After learned it I have not quit on many many things.
Printing mistake : From failure ro failure.
I am loving the things you write because these are the things that helped me in the past and its good to read it again from another person.
Yes, Life is really like a Marathon. We need to achieve things one by one to reach final goal, we should enjoy all the ups and downs. Hoping for few medals in 2016 Rio Olympics.
Great article Mr. Kumar 🙂 Your articles are really inspiring, thanks for posting this one 🙂