Dziennik ·
Everyday Marathon Preparation A marathon does not begin at the starting line.
A marathon does not begin at the starting line.
It begins many months earlier.
On an ordinary day.
Early in the morning.
After work.
In the rain, in the sun, when you have energy, and when you would much rather stay home.
My dad’s preparation for the Amsterdam marathon continues every day, and only now am I truly beginning to see how much effort it takes to prepare for 42.195 kilometers.
It is not simply running.
It is regular training, gradually longer distances, watching your pace, recovery, proper nutrition, sleep, and above all, consistency.
Some days are easier.
There are also days when the legs feel heavy, the weather does not cooperate, and the next kilometers seem endless.
And yet Dad puts on his shoes and goes out.
Because somewhere at the end of this road, Amsterdam is waiting.
Every Kilometer Matters
Watching his preparation, I can see that a marathon is built in small steps.
One day there is a shorter run.
Another day, a longer training run.
Sometimes you have to slow down and allow your body to rest so that later you can take another step forward.
Not every training session ends with a record.
And I think that is exactly the point.
It is not about being your best every single day.
It is about remembering every single day where you are going.
Amsterdam Is Getting Closer
With every week, the emotions grow.
Not long ago, October felt very far away. Today, every training session reminds us that race day is truly getting closer.
We are already cheering.
We ask how the training went, how many kilometers he ran, what the pace was, and how Dad feels.
And I understand more and more that when we see him on the course in Amsterdam, we will not see only a man running a marathon.
We will see every early morning, every training session, the fatigue, the sacrifices, and the hundreds of kilometers that brought him to that moment.
The Road Is Part of the Dream
Writing a book taught me something very similar.
A reader sees the finished book.
Just as a spectator sees a runner crossing the finish line.
But behind both are months of work that often no one else sees.
A little every day.
Page by page.
Kilometer by kilometer.
Until one day you realize that the big, distant dream is suddenly very close.
Amsterdam is waiting.
And we are counting down the training sessions and the kilometers.
The road to the finish line continues every day.
I’m officially starting the countdown! Are you counting along with me?
In 11 days, my mom, Michał, and my little son Jerzy are starting their exciting running adventure! My beloved Dad, on the other hand, gets to take it easy for one extra day—we’re counting 12 days for him!
Sending you lots of love!
Yours,
Zuza xoxo