Today, we welcome a new writer for angperegrino. We worked together in the past for a sister company, and she leads us for regular running (although it’s really more like jogging for me) every week at a neighborhood track oval. Read more about her in the About the Author box below.
Welcome to angperegrino Tin!
Originally posted in 2timothy.com during the Holy Week.
by Christine Ferrera
Endurance and Endurance Sports
Endurance: the power to withstand pain; the ability or strength to continue despite fatigue, stress, or adverse conditions.
Endurance sports require a prolonged period of physical exertion. There is no clear classification on which one would be an endurance sports but a track event like a 400-meter would not be while a Marathon or an Ultramarathon is. In cycling, field road cycling would be considered as one with Tour de France as the most popular one.
Compared to other team sports like basketball and football, it doesn’t get that much media nor does it get a great deal of public attention.
The sport is centered greatly around the individual. It takes a lot of motivation and willpower to finish one, more so to perform well in the sports. The sport would entail rigorous training routines and certain level of fitness.
It is even possible for a person not to complete a competition just because of his failure to overcome fatigue.
Life of an Endurance Athlete: The Holy Week Training Menu
Being an endurance athlete, training for me never stops. A big part of endurance sports happen during the training and preparation. There is no off-season for me. I may stop joining races or ease back on mileage but I would always be doing something to maintain my fitness level and keep it on deck when peak training starts again.
Even my vacations are planned in such a way that a workout is still done. The long weekend for the Holy Week is always part of the training cycle. With work load easing up during the week, it is the perfect time to load up on training.
And that’s what I always do. My gears are always packed even if I spend most of it out of town.
My Holy Week Training Menu is something like this:
Monday: Bike and short run
Tuesday: Run and Crossfit
Wednesday: Recovery Day and Myotherapy
Thursday: Bike
Friday: Run
Saturday: Hike
Sunday: Run
Don’t get me wrong though. I still get to squeeze in work and social life into it. The week is a great chance to reconnect with cousins and old friends as everyone would always troop home for a visit.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ENDURANCE ATHLETE: My Holy Week Reflection
I missed my morning run today but had a great time reflecting on that question my friend asked me last night. I can never really give any concrete answer on why I do it aside from the fact that I enjoy doing it. I love ‘enduring’.
I was reminded of the conversation shared to me by one ultramarathoner (who happens to be a pastor) and his pacer during BDM 160K Ultramarathon in 2012.
Runner: Give me one good reason why I should still endure 20kilometers. (I am already suffering)
Pacer: Because someone has suffered and died for us. And that is why we are here now running, walking and crawling to finish 160K.
Runner: (Baffled: Has any ultramarathoner died yet for us….Dean Karnazes is still alive. Scott Jurek is)….. Who?
Pacer: …JESUS!
Runner: (Tired and Shocked: I just got preached)… Let’s finish the race.
JESUS is indeed the first and the best ENDURANCE Athlete.
Out of His father’s love for us, He gave His only son to race and win for us.
Out of His great love for us, He lets the wounds mar Him to bring glory for us
Out of His great love for us, He carries our sins upon His shoulders.
He withstood the pain and hardships. He had the ability and strength to continue despite fatigue and all the adverse conditions.
He ENDURED until it was accomplished; until His dying breath has brought us life.
Maybe, this is the best answer I can give on why I do ultramarathons and crossfits:
I will continue to ENJOY AND ENDURE the SPORTS. I know that SOMEONE HAS OFFERED HIMSELF FOR ME to BLESS ME WITH THIS LIFE and gave me the GIFT TO ENJOY AND ENDURE WHATEVER IT BRINGS.
prayersofapilgrim.com 