Success Lessons From Marathons - Start Slow And Get Slower But Make Sure You Finish

A good laugh can help in a difficult or tough situation like running a marathon.

Bob Hope describes the power of laughter well:

"I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful."

I was interested to hear a stand up comedian describe his experience in the London Marathon. How did he manage to see the funny side? Can his experience teach us anything useful?

In 2004, Jasper Carrott spoke to an audience in Birmingham. At one point he described his experience in the London marathon. This is roughly what he said:

"A few years ago, I ran the London marathon. It seemed a good idea after about 6 pints of Guinness. And then I woke up and realised what I had committed myself to.

And its 26 miles?26 miles!! And I thought the only way I could contemplate running 26 miles would be to involve a nude chase with Pamela Anderson.

The best piece of advice I had was to 'start slow and get slower.'

Everybody warned you about the wall. I wasn't worried about hitting the wall. I was worried about hitting the road!

They put the elite at the front, then the club runners, then the tossers and at the back all the people dressed up as ostriches etc

I'm wearing a body bag to save time at the other end. It took me 7 and a half minutes to get to the starting line.

All sorts of people took part - London cabbies - I didn't know they could run and all these old people of 85 and 90.

One bloke ran the whole marathon playing a trombone and after playing the same tune over and over again he hit the wall a lot sooner than he thought.

At 19 and a half miles I hit the wall and became a daddy long legs.

At 22 and a half miles all the old geezers and old women overtook me. This woman said "Are you alright young man?!"

Anyway I finished it. I finished in 4 hrs 37 minutes."

Another comic, Jo Brand, is running in the 2005 London Marathon. Her target is anything less than eleven and a half days.

Jasper completed the run but had a good laugh either at the same time or later as he reflected on the experience.

Seeing the funny side of the marathon helped not only him but all who have listened to his description of the run since.

Can we learn anything from his experience of the Marathon? Definitely!

Jasper was ready to laugh at himself and his own inadequacies. This attitude can help anyone relax and do better when they are faced with a huge challenge.

He was not embarrassed by taking a long time completing the marathon. He was prepared to do something he was not good at. Many people will not do anything that they cannot come first in.

The elite runners seem to be sprinting in a marathon. The others seem to be jogging and the great majority are just staggering along. The less talented runners could easily get jealous and embarrassed and give up. However, they usually accept their limitations and keep going.

This can happen in any walk of life. Some people streak ahead in business and start making money almost immediately; others take years. The slow ones just need to keep on putting one foot in front of another and not get too depressed by the smart alecs who seem to know everything after a few days.

Above all, Jasper finished the marathon. As Marlon Sanders, the great internet guru from Texas says: "If a thing ain't done, it ain't done!" You can't sell an unfinished product. An incomplete website is no use to anyone.

Even if we start slow and get slower and even if we hit the wall and are overtaken by others, and even if we take eleven days, we are still champions if we can manage to finish a difficult and challenging task.

Remember the tortoise and the hare.

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams. They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now!" The book can be found at this URL http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine so long as you do not alter it and keep the resource box as it is.

---

Success Through Expertise - Bring In The Experts Or Become An Expert Yourself

This morning, on TV, I was amazed to see how... Read More

Your 12 Point Plan for Personal Success

No one becomes successful by accident. Success requires making a... Read More

Five Formulas for Committing to Success!

1. Clear vision + Intention + Purpose... Read More

Gratitude, Faith, and Clarity of Purpose -- The Most Powerful Statement

"Things might have been worse"This is the most powerful, dynamic,... Read More

Why Aren?t You Seriously Wealthy Already?

I bet you want to be wealthy, but somehow the... Read More

Persistence is Tops

To take the online road to success is not, contrary... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Throw A Success Shindig

Once you've made it...throw a Success Shindig! Of course you... Read More

Success Secrets - What They Taught You About Success Back in 10th Grade

Let me say this to get it out of the... Read More

10 Questions: Do You Have What It Takes?

Do you have what it takes to be really successful?Have... Read More

Lessons from My Garden

What does "Lessons from My Garden" have to do with... Read More

Success Lessons From Marathons - Start Slow And Get Slower But Make Sure You Finish

A good laugh can help in a difficult or tough... Read More

How to be Professional?

Is it difficult to be professional?I think from my experience... Read More

Nothing In-Between

Are you on the right track?Stop for a while, look... Read More

Five Steps To Success!

If you are looking for a surefire strategy to ensure... Read More

How the Subconscious Mind can Accelerate Self Improvement and Success

Just how powerful is the Subconscious Mind and how can... Read More

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful People

Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More

Don?t Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Whenever we have a bad experience or we own up... Read More

Looking for Harvey Weinstein - The Book and the Business

Two Immigrants Live The American DreamSome may call it a... Read More

Success Lessons from Baseball - Enthusiasm And Excitement Can Make The Difference

I remember, about 35 years ago, reading two books by... Read More

Dont Listen To Successful People

Do you know what the problem is with asking successful... Read More

How to Have an Amazingly Satisfying Year

I started taking stock of my year in 2002. I... Read More

Can You Think Your Way To Riches?

I am going to tell you something you already know... Read More

Signs Along the Road to Achievement

One of the first things most of us remember hearing... Read More

Accelerated Learning is Profitable

Accelerated learning is not only practical, it is profitable. Acquiring... Read More

Stop Reading Success Books and Start Being Successful

So you want to be successful (whatever that means to... Read More

How To Reverse Engineer Your Success

The best and fastest way to learn how to make... Read More

Self-confidence - How To Develop This Important Key to Success

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key... Read More

How To Start, Survive, and Finish Your Journey To Super Success

"The more you hate, the more you love."What an ironic... Read More

What Do You Need To Do To Be Successful?

What do you need to do to be successful? If... Read More

One Step at a Time the Bowling Ball up the Ladder of Success!

I have often been asked the question, "What is true... Read More

Think of Wealth and Become Wealthy

Our thought are magnetic ! Like a magnet we attract... Read More

Success Lessons From Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales is an interesting Western that I... Read More

Advance Your Enthusiasm and Determination for Success

Imagine being firmly committed to your deepest ambitions. Imagine feeling... Read More