Eliud Kipchoge is the uncontested king of the marathon. He has no equal, either in real-time or in history. His skill set is so far separated from the rest of the pack that his only competitor is himself, and a record considered the Holy Grail of long-distance running: the two-hour marathon. On par with the four-minute mile, this feat was once considered unachievable by a human athlete.
I say "was" because Eliud recently broke the record by completing a marathon in 1:59:49.
For those of you who are not runners, let me give you a bit of perspective. Remember Roger Bannister and the four minute mile? Well, Eliud ran a 4:34 pace per mile - for 26.2 miles! As a further frame of reference, people who "run for their lives," typically run 12 miles an hour. Eliud was ran at 15 mph, FOR TWO FULL HOURS!
Kipchoge: The Last Milestone is a documentary that chronicles Kipchoge's second attempt to complete a marathon in under two hours. Directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott, The Last Milestone shows Eliud not only to be a world-class athlete, but a world-class mind as well.
When he broke the two-hour barrier, Kipchoge wasn't competing against other runners; he was competing against history and the perception of what a human being can do. To accomplish that, he had to train his mind as much as he did his body. Train to acknowledge, understand, and endure unthinkable agony for hours. Eliud stated, "Mental strength plays a huge role in running marathons or competing in any other sport. Where there is pain, there is success."
Through accented English, Kipchoge makes it clear that he doesn't believe in human limitations, and if he did, he could not have broken the record: "Life is hard. Running is hard. Both are filled with ups and downs. I'm trying all my best to throw away the terminology of giving up. Everyone needs to believe in their own ability."
Reread it.
"Everyone needs to believe in their own ability!"
Eliud's mind is as strong as his body. He is singularly focused and unrelenting. He knows what he wants and what it will take to get there. He is willing to endure pain and understands it is required for gain. Above all, he has the unflinching belief that HE WILL GET THERE.
Then there is me. I fancy myself a bit of a runner, and distance is my thing. I even mentioned in a recent e-zine that completing a marathon is on my bucket list. Even if I were to achieve it, I am no Eliud Kipchoge.
Today is August 24th, and it happens to be my 55th birthday. I do not feel 55 and don't think I look 55 (maybe 52 or 53), but the calendar and Father Time are pretty clear on how long I have been walking around this planet, even if I am reticent to accept it.
I share this NOT to receive well wishes or celebratory notes (please don't, I am going to ask for something else), but because the passing of another year puts me in a place of contemplation. So I sit here, 55 years old, deep in thought. Not in reflection, but in ideating. Not looking back, but gazing forward and asking myself one seemingly simple but confounding question:
What is my 1 hour: 59 minutes: 59 seconds? What is the Holy Grail that I am chasing?
More importantly, what is yours?
I'm 55 and have been in music education for thirty-two years. How did this happen? I still feel like a first year teacher trying to get his oboes to play in tune. I should know more by now. I should be better at this by now. Can someone please show me how to get an oboe to play in tune?
Some of you may already know what it is, while others may need time and space to process.
We all need a 1:59:59. It can be personal or professional, short or long term, big or small. It may be physical or something you can achieve within your mind and spirit. It can be solitary and singular, like climbing a mountain, or done in tandem and as part of a team, like raising a child. Either way, it is there to challenge, motivate, confound, and inspire you.
If you would humor this birthday boy, perhaps you could take the rest of today and think on that question. Let it roll around in your mind and your soul a bit. Ruminate, ideate, or just quietly contemplate. If you are so inclined share with a colleague or discuss with a class. But, let it sit for a bit.
To help get your creative juices going, and not let the busy day take you away from your thoughts, I am attaching a picture/poster for you to download, print, and hang in your office for the next twenty-four hours.
So for the next twenty-four hours, ask yourself the question, "What is my 1:59:59?"
I will return tomorrow with my answer and ask for yours. In the meantime, remember the words of Eliud Kipchoge, "In order to achieve something, you must first believe that you can."
Wise words Eliud.
Don't wait, download the poster and hang it in your office right now. I will be back tomorrow to tell you what to do with it.
In the meantime, have a great day.
- Scott