#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
