The marathon is one of the greatest challenges in sports. That’s why so many runners are drawn to it. Run a marathon, and you know that you’ve really accomplished something. Some runners think that they have to run a marathon to become a “real runner.” They think that no one will think they’re legitimate runners otherwise. That’s not true. No one is less of a runner for not running a marathon. I don’t race marathons any more, but someone must still think I’m OK because I got to write this book. One of the most revered figures in American running, Steve Prefontaine, never ran a marathon. And if how far you run in a race determines your worthiness as a runner, then shouldn’t we all be aiming for 50-milers, 100-milers, or even the six-day races that a few runners do? Training for and running a marathon takes a lot of work. When the going gets tough, you’re going to come face to face with your soul, and you’re going to ask, “Why am I doing this?” Before doing a marathon, you should be able to answer that question with your own reasons, not someone else’s standards.
