We all know that physical exercise is good and has so many beneficial advantages. Still, many people prefer not to move if they can avoid it or if they feel the tiniest pain. To me, it is never a question whether to run or not; it’s always “how far” or “how fast”. I wish to be an inspiration for others to get to that point where physical exercise is a natural part of your life that you enjoy and long for. The last couple of years, I’ve had the courage to challenge myself and go beyond my physical limits – or, more correctly – what I thought were my physical limits. So, what is pain? Recently, I heard a physiotherapist say that “pain is when the brain interprets a possible threat or danger”. As Lorimer Moseley says in his TED Talk Why Things Hurt: “Pain is a construct of the brain”.

The brain is tricky. A healed injury can hurt again and overreact because the brain remembers. It is quite common that people have problems but doctors and X-rays or MRI cannot find anything wrong. When all the physical examinations have been done and you are ‘clear’, then the brain still tries to trick you. I also believe that sometimes it’s a question of a social construction; that you are brought up to believe that some things are possible and some are not. But who says what you can or cannot do? Always ask that question!

Many people have crossed limits challenging their physical abilities and achieved what seems unrealistic and unattainable. To me, climbing a mountain, challenging harsh weather conditions and so on; those are not my goals. However, those people hugely inspire me because they show us that nothing is impossible. Until recently I had not run longer than a marathon. It was a year ago since my last one and I wasn’t at all in my usual long-distance shape. Still, I dared to run 50 k in one day.

Since my experience of #sthlmfive, I am more courageous. In my daily life, I avoid travelling with public transportation to work. I run – even if I have another work out planned for the day, I just do both. Why not? Of course, I have adapted my body to this with many, many years of running but I do not mentally stop myself as I did before.

It is important to understand that you are where you are. Don’t compare yourself to others but don’t let others stop you from doing your thing. As a Personal Trainer, I always do my best to encourage my clients because they are doing great just being at the gym. Sure, you need to take one step at the time; patience is crucial (but that’s a subject for another blog post). There’s always something you can do. If you have an injury, then work out with another body part. Do different exercises. This not only keeps you in good shape, it also takes away focus on the injured part (which I believe can make it heal faster).

Inspiration (literature and programs)

Are you the kind of person who after the first marathon wants other challenges – an ultra-marathon or a triathlon? Or are you (like me) the person who has found the sport of passion and just want to continue with that? No matter who you are, I believe that inspirational persons may help you develop and enjoy your sport(s) even more. When you are struggling with those last miles and your legs hurt, then these stories may help you get a new perspective. Reading and learning about people, who have done extraordinary physical challenging sports, helps me in my own training. My own performances are very small compared to theirs – which in turn makes my struggles and pain easier to handle. Therefore, I get energy to dare challenge myself.

One of the first books that inspired me was Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I am not pro-bare foot running but that’s not the main message in the book (in my opinion). I was impressed of how much they could run, every day! How much the body could endure and the people just did it, they did not have great worries about whether they were going to make it or not.

Endure by Alex Hutchinson is another book that was supporting my thoughts and feelings about what the body can sustain. The body can tolerate and endure so much more than we think!

Another inspiration is the documentary of The Barkley Marathons. This is an ultra-marathon where the participants run in harsh terrains. To finish, there are five loops. Not many runners fulfill and only one or two make all five loops. One loop is approximately 32 k and the fastest runners make the first loop in 7-8 hours! The time limit for all five loops is 60 hours! This tells us how hard the race is, not only is it a tough route but it is also a long time to be out there.

So, does it hurt at the end of your race? Remember that your body is amazing and only you (or your brain) define your limits.