My wife Jocelyn had this crazy idea that WE should run a
marathon. In 2007, in our mid-50’s we followed Forrest Gump’s lead, started
running and never looked back.
Over the next ten months we ran thousands of kilometers in
training. Up hills. Down hills. Snow. Rain. Heat. Thirst and hunger. Yes,
hunger is a constant companion of marathoners. Energy bars, water, good shoes, dry socks, perseverance
and endurance are a marathoner’s greatest assets. Plus being a little crazy.
After 10-mile and Half-marathon races for practice, Jocelyn
and I completed all 42.3kms of the International Marathon in Niagara Falls,
Ontario - October 2007. We crossed the
finish line with the last stragglers after nearly six hours of running.
Injured, but we finished. And we have the medals to prove it.
In 2012 I took Anne Lamont’s lead, started writing and never
looked back. My metaphor for writing is a marathon.
The writer’s life is a marathon not a sprint. Writing is a
long devotion in the same direction. Day
after day, we put fountain pen to paper and write. Perseverance and stamina are
a writer’s friends.
Long distance runners know that a marathon is not a series
of sprints. Marathons must be paced. Settling early into a pace that allows for
the greatest possibility of finishing is strategic.
A writing life needs to be paced. Measure your stride. The
natural energy of an enthused start and early successes should be tempered by a
finish line that is never in sight until the last moments of a run. Finishing
is the goal but stride is the means to achieve the goal.
Writing, like marathon training for the most part, is
lonely. Writers work alone with their
ideas, space, and hopes. We feel the loneliness of a long distance runner.
Writing is lonely however publishing is like long distance
racing. Racers are never alone. Other runners, water station attendants and those
wonderful cheerleaders with signs and noisemakers spread out over the 42.3km
courses, encourage racers.
Fellow writers are in the same race. Readers of our blogs,
posts, books and anthologies are like water station attendants. People who
comment on our posts or review our books are like the encouragers along a race
route.
A writer's hope is to engage, entertain, inform, inspire and in some small way make the world a better place for our readers.
A writer's hope is to engage, entertain, inform, inspire and in some small way make the world a better place for our readers.
People who decide to become writers because of something they
read of our writing are the ones who give us hope in our marathon.
Follow his writing at Pointes Of View.
Bob is
a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced
Tea. His office walls are adorned with his sons’ framed football jerseys, and
his library shelves, with soul food. He writes to inspire people to be real,
grow an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover
their life purpose.
Follow his writing at Pointes Of View.
