Peace Corps isn't a race, it's a marathon!

Circa June 2007 'Marathon to Marathon'


To commemorate Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year, naturally, I let myself get talked into running a 10km race. Now, I’m thinking I should have just bought a box of chocolates. Just kidding. Hindsight reassures this was good for me. I did it, all the way through, nonstop which produced a much-needed feeling of accomplishment. Of course, it shouldn’t be that big of a deal for me since I used to be an avid runner. Then again, consider for a moment that I can literally count on one hand the number of times I went running last year. Unbelievable!

Almost 3 years ago, I ran a marathon. It took me nearly five hours. Back in the glory of my running days, I would go almost every day—usually about six miles a day rotating in different terrains, speed intervals, and cross-training. Rigorous training spanned about a year until I felt equip to run the whole 26.2 miles. I started training when I lived in Austraila during Spring/Summer 2006—there was something about that fresh ocean air and the feral Aussie spirit that spurred my determination. In October, I ran a half marathon and in June I finally took the plunge. I learned the road to a marathon is as long as the marathon itself.

Ever since I joined the cross-country team in high school, I’ve had a certain love for running. Not for speed, not for distance necessarily, or to maintain a certain shape, but for the wonderful feeling I get when I breathe in fresh air and feel my muscles working hard while rising to the challenge. I used to run in all kinds of weather. Rain, snow, or shine. Always ready to take whatever kind of backdrop the day delivers.

Completing a marathon was one of those life goals I decided to tackle sooner than later. Not that I’ve totally sworn off running—I hope to run another marathon some day—but the pressure is definitely off. Given a subsequent chronic knee injury, it worked out quite well. Running a marathon is something that... well, it requires a lot of work, a lot of persistence, a lot of patience, a lot of stamina, a lot of drive. Something that I will always remember from running for that long for those many miles is that it took every inch of strength I had in me to reach the finish. The physical is a mere, albeit necessary, part of it. Such an endeavor requires extraordinary mental, physical, emotional, and—for some more than others—spiritual drive. I can certainly bear witness that ‘hitting the wall’ is indeed not a myth. Usually this occurs around mile 14-20 when the body simply runs dangerously low on levels of nutrients such as glucose, sucrose, and electrolytes as the deplete at an accelerated rate. With insufficient levels of these nutrient, the body will fatigue and become more cramped. Then, the mind, communicating with the rest of the body, seems to impede as well. Looking back, I think I actually hit the wall a few times. It’s hard to describe how you manage to keep going long after the body says, ‘hey, you go ahead but this vessel stops here!’ It takes more. I think around mile 21, when every bone in my body was all but senseless and I could no long command my legs in any direction or speed other than steadily forward, my emotions started to kick in. Slow, somber sobs cascaded as I pressed on. Faith that I could do it waivered, but never vanished completely. Surely, no two-marathon runners have the same experience. Though I would venture to guess the outcomes are rather convergent.

Upon reflecting on my marathon experience, it becomes very clear that Peace Corps is a lot like a marathon. Even the distance—27 month—is reminiscent of the 26.2 miles in a marathon. As I venture further into the similarities, I can conjure up a list of guidelines that applies to both marathon running and Peace Corps. It goes a little something like this...

This isn’t a race, it’s a marathon...pace yourself!

You’ve got to have the right training and the right gear to get the job done

Hope for the best, plan for the worst... the weather is often unpredictable

Preparation is good but only goes so far when the actual shot rings out

No one is forcing me to do this, I do it because it’s a challenge I believe worthy of pursuing

It takes mind, body, spirit, and heart to complete this

There are no short cuts

Like life, this isn’t a one-person journey, it’s the human race

When you hit the wall, muster up some faith and press on!

Celebrate small victories

Try to make friends on the road, it will lighten the load

Go at your own speed and listen to your body

Never stop trying

If it were that easy, everyone would do it

Enjoy the voyage and the nature that surrounds it

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometime you’re behind

People will be there along the way to support and guide you

Patience is a virtuous necessity

Be grateful for having the capacity to endure the race

That finish line is only the beginning of a new chapter/challenge in your life