#somethingfresh: ​Preparing for the Moscow Marathon 

A few days ago, one of my colleagues told me about the Moscow marathon which is to take place this Saturday September 25. The first prize is a cash prize of about $5,000. Of course I was excited about it and started calculating how I would take part in it.

Because I was told that the Kenyans are the favorites in the competition, I decided to ask a Kenyan friend of mine who runs for his university. “You’ll need at least a year to train for a marathon,” he told me.

Well, I agreed I needed a year and decided to look forward to next year’s marathon. Maybe I’d make second or third place.

“I did a 5km many years back, and my time was about 23 minutes,” I told him, probably to let him know I could deliver.

He laughed, and said he could do that distance in 15 minutes.

“15 minutes!” I said.

“Oh well, you see, I’m an athlete, you’re not,” he started.

“Even if you’re an athlete, how often do you train?

I’m a training athlete; I train three times a week.”

At that point I knew the matter was over. I wasn’t even an athlete, not to talk of a training athlete.

Conversing with my athlete friend gave me food for thought.

In the things I’m supposed to be good at, am I training enough?

Am I fit? Can I answer if called to do something in that direction, and deliver well?

As a Christian, do I put my body under subjection, training to win the prize of the high calling for which I’m apprehended?

As a professional, do I work on improving my skills and qualifications; am I up to date with the latest innovations in my field?

As a minister, do I build myself up with the word of God and prayer? Or am I eating and drinking and carnally-minded?
Am I a training athlete?

Ike Amadi

@ikeamadi