Running a Marathon

You know, one of the things I have considered doing is running a marathon.  A marathon is approximately 26 miles or 42 kilometers.  Who in their right mind does that?  It’s a long way.  As a full-time grad student, I have quickly adopted a lethargic lifestyle.  Seems impossible.

The frosh 15, that is, gaining 15 pounds in the first year of university… I have gained about 30 pounds so far since I had started my doctoral studies 3 years ago.  I am not proud of this accomplishment, but I think that running a marathon is like writing a dissertation…

Running a marathon is a HUGE feat… completing a doctoral thesis is a HUGE feat.  I have learned I can complete my dissertation if I break down the HUGE task into smaller, doable ones with a reasonable time line.  Could this be the same for marathon training?

OK.  That was a rhetorical question.  Along with planning and making achievable steps, completing the HUGE feat without injury requires commitment, time, and effort.  To accomplish my goals, I have to keep working on it… and not CRAM it into the last minute.

Here’s the rude awakening… you cannot train for a marathon in 2-weeks… much like writing a dissertation.  The person in-training needs to work on the task daily, consistently, and with sheer determination to eventually be attain the HUGE feat successfully.

For example, I have just submitted a 250 word abstract to participate in a Education Grad Student Seminar and I intend to take advantage of other opportunities that could contribute to my dissertation experience.  Now, I am working on my Gantt chart and Learning Contract.

Every effort, every step, every action is moving forward and heading in the right direction.  To top it off, I am currently trying to get off my bum and train for a 10K race in October.  I think this physical training will enhance my mental training, in vice versa.

I am hopeful.  All that I can do today is BELIEVE that everything that I am doing, including this blog entry, is helping me move along with my learning process.  I need to believe that I can write, research, and make a contribution to education with my dissertation.

Perceived Self-Efficacy (Bandura, 1977)… I am writing about it… and am living it.  To believe in oneself to make a difference means to believe in being able to accomplish anything.  Small goals for the fall is to run 10K and apply for ethics approval to start interviewing.

There is much to do on a daily basis to get these two goals accomplished in the next few months, but anything is possible… you’ve just got to want it bad enough to get it.