A Dream

The crowd is on their feet. A grizzled old athlete who knows his better days are behind him is defying Father Time. He is galloping like the wind and about to win. Incredulous may be the best way to describe the scene. The athlete's weathered face portrays the same, along with another look – confusion. He expects to approach a catcher, umpire, home plate, and people on their feet clapping in a vast stadium. Instead, he sees a tape as he runs through a gauntlet of people cheering madly.

I wake in a sweat and wonder what it means? The explanation is simple. My sporting life has been baseball and running. I have happy sleep visions of scoring the winning run and finishing marathons. And nightmares of misplaying a ground ball and tripping when out for a jog. The dream is a model of life itself —one moment is fantastic, the next one, not so much.

"If You want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done."

Thomas Jefferson

In this prescient quote, Thomas Jefferson details the slippery path to accomplishment.

Develop Fundamental Beliefs

Do you ever wonder what it takes to do something noteworthy?  I know a little about it from reaching two cherished athletic goals, the Major Leagues and 14 marathons. Thomas Jefferson is right on, and I would like to add to his proclamation, "Nothing meaningful comes from short and easy." Finishing a marathon and making dreams come true takes a long and hard road. The benefits of long and hard are discovering yourself and your competitive makeup. When you strive to go high and far, life is purposeful, which is the way it should be.

My running story begins with a few fundamental beliefs.

The Boss, Bruce Springsteen sang,

"Cause tramps like us

Baby, we were born to run."

And Christopher McDougall wrote in his book Born to Run,

"If you don't think you weren't born to run, you're not only denying history. You're denying who you are."

I'll accept being those because I know I was born to run. To all the tramps and deniers out there, it's time to get moving.

Christopher also writes,

"You don't stop running because you get old; you get old because you stop running."

That's my belief, too, to keep moving and stick to it forever. I hope, anyway, knowing experience is my friend, but age isn’t.

Follow Those Who Have Gone Before

I am not an expert or world-class marathoner by any means, so I cannot give you the top runners' perspective. I can’t even imagine how it is possible to run that far under two and a half hours. Nor can I fathom the amount of training one would have to run those times. As for me, I consider running under five hours for the 26.2 miles a miraculous feat.

However, now in training for my 15th marathon, I have the background to write about traveling far on foot, regardless of not trying to break records. My experience allows me to tell you what it is like for amateur runners who love running and pushing themselves beyond where they thought they could go. This guide will help those interested in knowing how to commit and be their best at their goals.

I must warn you, though. Sometimes, it may sound like I am discouraging running a marathon — that is not my intent. But the frequently-mentioned anguish can make it seem that way. The fact is finishing a marathon is daunting, and the training is even more robust. My goal is to help “the trier” feel as I do when taking on an arduous task — alive, goal-oriented, and disciplined.

Additionally, I was not a great baseball player, but I did what it took to make the top level. That quest gave valuable insight into the training and dedication needed to be a proven athlete. It is where I figured out what it takes to compete and persevere. Most importantly, I know my past had shown me how to finish when the odds seemed against me. So, I will not say, "If I can run a marathon, anybody can." I know playing Major League Baseball is a significant advantage for running a marathon. What I can say is the two struggles give me a perspective few others have. I often tell my baseball players that one learns more from failure than from success. I believe that, so I know I have a ton to say with my many setbacks in baseball and marathon running.

Find the Route

Perhaps like me, you have heard the expression, "Running is a metaphor for life." I agree. One day and one mile, one has clarity, the next time and mile, everything comes crashing down. Life and running are not smooth-flowing excursions. Both involve many moments when joy and the finish line seem far away.

Many things go into high performance. Talent helps with the substantial, necessary physical toll athletes require, but it only takes one so far. Other factors, like experience, resilience, and perseverance, play a huge role. It's mostly the cerebral aspect that separates the advancers from those who falter. Developing the right mindset separates the achievers from the wannabes. 

Create A Purposeful Attitude

Running and training for a marathon is hard work, no question, but spectacular spells come too. Sometimes, my feet barely touch the ground. Those may be fleeting moments, but the elusive life focus and peace of mind arrive, and all is well in the world. The most exciting thing is running has helped me clarify the items that go into a successful life voyage.

I’ve come to realize the importance of:

1. Never getting far from doing the things you love. At the young age of 67, I coach baseball and keep scampering along the running trails. Both activities give me purpose and youthful sensations. When you find something that inspires, grab hold, and never let it go. Then, use what you learn for others and other life endeavors. The marathon may be long, but life is short.

2. Never stop searching for and attempting new ambitions and bucket list items because they bring meaning to life. Many undertakings are not straightforward but going through life and never giving them a try creates avoidable regrets. It’s critical not to put yearnings off for long because some may take a lifetime to reach.

3. Learning to apply an uncommon daring, a tank full of guts, and above-average stamina to reach higher than before. Without those, one’s full potential will be elusive. Goals are attainable for those who put their heart and soul and, in athletics, body into it.

4. Turning "challenge" into "the necessary" to accomplish the most trying endeavors. If you get to the point of doing something because "you must," it becomes you. When you rely on an activity as part of a perfect day, accomplishing it becomes easier.

5. Giving your all to discover things about yourself you will not find elsewhere.

Believe in the Possible Rewards

Not everyone can run a marathon. Loping long stretches in a single bound requires unique physicality. But everyone can discover what it takes to become a successful runner, athlete, winner, and hero. Being a runner gives you an identity to be proud of and helps with a healthy lifestyle. Learning what it takes to be an athlete helps one flourish in many life areas. A winner is a mindset. It lets you know you have what it takes to succeed, and the pride it brings influences one daily. And, who wouldn't want to feel like a hero – a person admired for their dedication and perseverance. Whether others accept you as one or not, to think of yourself in that way is life-altering. I believe it’s a worthy accolade when you think of the road it takes to do the doubtful and knowing it’s beyond what most people can do.

The incentive and reward are the same — you will be one of the select people in this world who pull the marathon feat off. Less than 1% of people on this planet have finished a marathon. Better yet, it may end up the most outstanding accomplishment of your life. With any struggle, to say, "I gave it everything I had," and "I pushed myself to the limit" is momentous itself. Any of those results are worthy accomplishments no one can ever take away from you. The attempt alone makes it worth it for two reasons — you tried and did your best.

Step Up to Move Forward

I'm frequently asked, "How did you make it to the big leagues?" My initial response is, "That's a great question. I'm not sure what all went into it, except I know it took a lot of work." That response is the same as for another query I now receive, "How have you run so many marathons?" I felt it was time to unearth the solutions to both inquiries. My high-achievement mission details 26.2 intricate steps. Of course, that number is no coincidence when thinking about a marathon. It’s a considerable number, no doubt, but a reason exists some people reach their end, and others do not. One doesn't get to the stars without building a solid rocket – A to Z plus two!

Although I will show you how to get as much out of yourself as possible with running, as I have had to do, I believe the success trail is the same and critical for coping with all life challenges. Many solutions are here for those seeking their athletic, working, parenting, or creative potential. Mostly, I hope my tale of success and failure helps you believe you can do anything you set out to do, or at the least, spur you to give your ambitions a try.

I invite you to come along. It will be fun, at least the reading, if not the sweat.

A Marathon Legend Capsule

Grace Personified

One just never knows what life has in store for them.

Imagine you are retiring on Friday, and the day before you hang it up, you discover something about yourself you never knew. Instead of stopping, you become the most successful person in the world in your field. For some people, fate has a way of stepping up in the nick of time.

As hard as it is to admit, I cry easily. Upsetting or inspiring news makes me emotional, and having to tell someone about it often brings more teardrops. It's just me. I cried when reading about this person, especially seeing a way-too-young death after a life well-lived. For a hint to that person, I pose this question that I realize only hard-core running fans will know. Who was the first non- American inducted into the United States National Distance Running Hall of Fame?

After a successful running career at lower distances globally, Norwegian Grete Waitz was retiring to her school-teacher profession. Before that, however, she entered the New York Marathon at the last moment, after encouragement from her husband. Because of the late entry, her bib number wasn’t in the official program. Grete later stated that they treated New York as a second honeymoon, and the race was another thing to do while in New York. She knew little about marathons and had never run more than 13 miles at a time in her life. So, the 26.2 miles would be nearly impossible. According to the New York times, "She said the last 10 miles of the race were agony, and she was so angry at her husband that when she crossed the finish line, she tore off her shoes and flung them at him." "I'll never do this stupid thing again," she yelled.

All distance runners can relate to that feeling, and it's kind of cool to note a high-caliber athlete had the sensation of us average runners. Wait a minute! What? Never mind. It turns out Grete won the New York marathon that day, and by the way, set a women's world record in doing so. That, of course, is “greatness” because the "average" never experiences the impossible.

The experience hooked her on the Marathon, and she trained, set more records for years to come, and inspired people worldwide. Getting hooked is how it works for many of us; it doesn't matter how unbearable it gets, running slips into one’s soul. She won the New York Marathon nine times and set the world record many times. She won too many events to mention here.

Impressive stuff, sure, but what brought the tears were the words spoken about her. For example:

"Humility and athleticism made her a singularly graceful champion" – New York Times.

"What will endure forever is that she was able to balance a competitive career with the most gracious lifestyle, and a character that emanated goodwill" – Joan Benoit Samuelson

"Every sport should have a true champion like Grete, a woman with such dignity and humanity and modesty." – George Hirsch, the chairman of the New York Road Runners.

"She is our sport's towering legend." – Mary Wittenberg, New York Road Runners President.

It's one thing to be a tremendous athlete, but as everyone knows, that adjective doesn't always or often extend beyond the playing fields. When I hear the words - humility, gracious, goodwill, dignity, humanity, modesty, and legend - I take note, cry, and hope people like her are in our kids’ history books. Athletes, especially youth ones, need role models, and Grete fits the bill like few others. Another thing difficult for me to admit is Grete finished the New York marathon in less than half the time it took me to do it. Oh well, I can live with that just knowing I traveled the ground she made hallowed.

My Story: A Disappointing Win

Each mile I travel only means

The more I have to go

What's wrong with wanting more?

If you can fly - then soar!

With all there is - why settle for

Just a piece of sky?

Barbara Streisand “A Piece of Sky”

Tailored to Win

My goal for each marathon has been to finish the race and live to talk about it. I know that sounds a little overdramatic, but it fits the purpose when answering the frequent inquiry of "What time do you expect to finish?" Of course, stretches came during the fourteen marathons that such a dire eventuality crossed my mind. The fantastic news is I finished each one, and the feat gives me the same pride I gained from being on the major league stage.

But even though satisfied with the outcomes, sometimes in sports, a win feels more like a loss…..