Pushing the Limits

Runners pounding the pavement during the 111th Annual Boston Marathon

Despite living in Boston for the past 5 years, I haven't had the time or opportunity to watch the Boston Marathon live and in person. I'm usually at work on Patriots' Day but, for one reason or another, my boss decided to give us the day off.

Watching the Boston Marathon on TV inspires me to work towards a more physically active lifestyle. Some may consider me to have an already physically active lifestyle - I work out at least 4 times weekly for at least an hour each session - but I have yet to reach my peak level of physical fitness. I can run at a 6 mile per hour pace for 10 minutes nonstop but, after that, I usually need to slow down to a 4 mile per hour walking pace to catch my breath.

Running the Boston Marathon - or any marathon, for that matter - has always been one item on my life "to do" list. These marathon runners - arms pumping, muscled legs and sweaty torsos - demonstrate self-discipline and hard work at its best. They show us the ever-expanding limits we face when we push our bodies hard enough towards an almost impossible goal.

I hope to run at least one marathon someday. Watching the Boston Marathon has inspired me to start towards that goal today.