When you are in the last few miles of a long run (which often turn out to be the hardest) and are on the verge of giving up, you can't afford to think of how things would've turned out 'if only' you had done things differently before the run or during the earlier miles. Neither does it help to think of what will happen after the run.
Any thoughts at that point about the past or about giving up will hinder rather than help you.
The fastest way to get relief and to not regret it later on, is to keep going.
The feeling is crazy because here are you are exhausted and hurting and your legs don't want to move anymore. A small break, just a teeny weeny one minute walking break would make you feel refreshed you think. Everything in your body tells you to stop there or take a pause. Many things in your mind keep hammering that too. Our minds are so used to a culture of convenience that it doesn't make any sense at all to go through this entirely voluntary madness. We are surrounded by things designed to make every small slice of our life as comfortable as we can afford it to be. Our chairs, bed, quilts, couches, cars, carpets, gadgets, food, desserts, furniture, language, gestures, TV shows, social networks....everything has evolved to provide comfort and convenience. Why then should you put yourself through the misery of those last few miles?
The answer is different for everyone.
However, the way to reach the destination honorably remains the same. One step after another. Maybe your stride and breathing is now more efficient than before and you are running smarter, not just harder. But it is still one step after another.
And the same answer applies when you are stuck at some point in life, outside of running. It doesn't matter that you've come so far, that you didn't get a fair deal in life (the weather isn't always perfect for running), that you faltered and had to stop running for some time in the past, that there's no one to cheer you on when you think you need it most, that you've temporarily forgotten why you are doing this, that others are doing this way better than you, that you suck at this. The only thing that matters is you keep going even if it hurts so damn much.
Any thoughts at that point about the past or about giving up will hinder rather than help you.
The fastest way to get relief and to not regret it later on, is to keep going.
The feeling is crazy because here are you are exhausted and hurting and your legs don't want to move anymore. A small break, just a teeny weeny one minute walking break would make you feel refreshed you think. Everything in your body tells you to stop there or take a pause. Many things in your mind keep hammering that too. Our minds are so used to a culture of convenience that it doesn't make any sense at all to go through this entirely voluntary madness. We are surrounded by things designed to make every small slice of our life as comfortable as we can afford it to be. Our chairs, bed, quilts, couches, cars, carpets, gadgets, food, desserts, furniture, language, gestures, TV shows, social networks....everything has evolved to provide comfort and convenience. Why then should you put yourself through the misery of those last few miles?
The answer is different for everyone.
However, the way to reach the destination honorably remains the same. One step after another. Maybe your stride and breathing is now more efficient than before and you are running smarter, not just harder. But it is still one step after another.
And the same answer applies when you are stuck at some point in life, outside of running. It doesn't matter that you've come so far, that you didn't get a fair deal in life (the weather isn't always perfect for running), that you faltered and had to stop running for some time in the past, that there's no one to cheer you on when you think you need it most, that you've temporarily forgotten why you are doing this, that others are doing this way better than you, that you suck at this. The only thing that matters is you keep going even if it hurts so damn much.
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Your thoughts are very welcome and I look forward to them eagerly. Just be mindful of being civil. This is a good book about the same in case you are interested:
Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct - P.M.Forni