Comments on: What Marathons Have Taught Me About Lifestyle Design

By: Alvaro Perez

Alvaro Perez — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:54:28 +0000

What a good article. I really enjoyed it. It couldn’t come to me in a better time. I’ve unconsciously been trying to get shortcuts getting into professional activities that I don’t like/enjoy. The promise of quick money shouldn’t be the #1 factor to consider so now I’m getting back to the basics: in my case, a steady income from an activity that I enoy and some free time to do my blog or make some outdoor sales, but not these latter as a main source of income. By the way, I used to run and enjoy it….I should get back to it.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:00:47 +0000

Love the post John. Congrats on finishing! Slow and steady wins the race!

Looks like you lost some weight there in the “After” pic!
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..The Best Post on Craigslist, And It’s All About Love And Money

By: mina

mina — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:38:56 +0000

awesome post. congrats on completing the marathon – i’m hoping to do a half marathon some day!
mina´s last blog ..antigua

By: Joseph Joel Sherman

Joseph Joel Sherman — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:55:17 +0000

I agree, getting through a marathon or similar challenges is about the people. “We all could run our own 42.195 kilometers in our own free time and avoid the entrance fees, but the real value of the race is to join like-minded people and do it together.” Well put. I think it is similar to learning a new language. You may be able to learn a lot for a text book or software program, but the real joy comes form building personal connections.
Joseph Joel Sherman´s last blog ..Connect – Learning Azerbaijani from 10,071 kilometers away

By: Diggy -Upgradereality.com

Diggy -Upgradereality.com — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:21:16 +0000

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Congrats John. I like to run but not more than a few km’s at a time. Like you say, training and determination are the only way to get it done, there is no shortcut.

Have an awesome 2010!
Diggy -Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..Grow Old – Become a Centenarian

By: Mari

Mari — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:49:13 +0000

Thank you so much for this inspiring, truthful post. I definitely needed it today.

By: Abbie

Abbie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:03:53 +0000

Having run a couple marathons myself, you have totally hit the nail on the head – I couldn’t agree more!

By: Boring Life Rob

Boring Life Rob — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:01:46 +0000

I’m sitting here looking at a $1 pack of smokes in Yogyakarta while recovering from a seriously infected knee. Also waiting to catch an overnight train to Jakarta.

This post really hits home. I especially like the concept of it’s not a sprint, only competing with yourself and the next 10 meters. I’ve read a lot of bloggeries recently but this one really hits home.

Thanks for putting such well articulated thoughts on the web.

All the best in 2010!
Boring Life Rob´s last blog ..Yogyakarta to Jakarta by Night Train

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:31:27 +0000

I think we underestimate the value of those hardships. The harder the work, the more we enjoy the results. Things that come easy are not valued highly.

Fly across the country in a few hours and most people will complain about the lousy food, bad service and crowds at the airport. There is no appreciation about the miracle of flight because it is so cheap and commonplace. Walk across the country over a period of a couple of years and you will think it was the greatest journey of your life.

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:28:02 +0000

I keep saying that it is not about ‘passion’ or ‘fun.’ Even eating chocolate gets disgusting if you do too much. So many people are waiting for the perfect passion before they commit themselves to the work. The problem is that perfect never comes and they spend their lives never seriously attempting anything.

Committing to one moderately attractive passion is a far more effective life strategy than waiting for some fantasy dream life to appear. We all can’t be rock stars, but we probably all dream of that. Even being a rock star is not all fun and excitement.