What Running 4 Marathons Taught Me About Perseverance

Interview with LAS Education Coach and LAS Medical Coach: Kweku Bentum

Difficult and laborious tasks are often compared to marathons. Studying for an exam, learning a new skill/instrument, even life is a “marathon–not a sprint.” The lesson conveyed is that we require pacing, realistic evaluations of achievement, gradual progress, and consistent practice to chip away at the miles. Marathons are 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers–not a feat a person can do without training.

This is an apt metaphor, as marathons demand considerable forethought, segmented training, and a gradual rise in mileage to avoid injury. Most marathon plans recommend at least 20 weeks or 5 months of training before stepping on the start line.

Many studies aim to understand why and how a runner decides to undertake the long hours, weeks, and months of training. In one frequently cited study, “The Motivations of Marathoners (MOM) Scale,” researchers developed an instrument to measure athlete’s motivations for pursuing the sport.

They highlight 4 main areas/motives:

• Psychological: provide life meaning, increase self-esteem
• Physical: improve overall fitness
• Social: to meet people
• Personal Goal Achievement: “to push myself beyond current limits”

LAS Education Coach and LAS Medical Coach Kweku Bentum is an avid runner with four marathons under his belt. Below he shares some reflections about his motivations, his experiences running, and how his meticulous training carries over into different parts of his life.

Why do you marathon train?

“I marathon train because it helps me stay focused in my day-to-day activities. It also teaches me to work best under pressure since I have to train and also make time for work and personal life. Having a training plan helps me be effective at time management/estimation of task completion and planning ahead.”

How do you persevere during training amid challenges/injuries? What about during the actual race?

“The energy and support from my social network also motivates me to keep going. I know they are always waiting for me toward the end and that keeps me from never quitting. Since the marathon is something I have experienced before, I do not exert pressure on myself to complete it by a certain time. This makes the race fun and not quite as challenging.”

You’ve run 4 marathons—what brings you back each time?

“There is a takeaway from each marathon experience. I always learn something from each marathon. For example, you can be 100% prepared for a race,  but weather conditions may not be ideal. This means you have to adjust accordingly to get to the finish line. For such occasions, I cannot stop but wonder, “What if conditions were different? I guess I have to go back”.

How does this training carry over into different parts of your life?

“To maintain a social life, I have to complete training before a certain time. Training helps me to be better at time management and calendar planning. It also helps me have a better grasp on estimating time on tasks.

Test prep and marathon training both involve building stamina, consistency, and grit. It takes time to build stamina and often has to be done in segments. Test prep and marathon training have those things in common. They both also have specific exercises that target areas for improvement. For example, to improve running speed, Zone 2 long runs, strength training, and explosive calf exercises are necessary to see the improvement over time. Similarly, LAS Test Prep uses targeted learning and targeted recall practice, to build efficiency and accuracy of recall and enhance achievement outcomes.

Test-taking also involves understanding the test format and scope of the exam (e.g., time per question, section, etc.) and when to take breaks or fuel up. Marathon training is similar and involves understanding the race course (e.g., location of aid stations, gels for fueling up, etc.).”