Two thumbs up
I almost always dread the post-race photos that race organizers inevitably send out in an effort to squeeze more money out of runners following a race.
There are very few people in the world who look good while running, and rightfully so — Running long distances does not lend itself to bringing out a person’s aesthetic peak. You’re hot, you’re sweating, you’re exhausted, and mentally you spend most of the time trying to figure out why you signed up and how you can get done with it as soon as possible. Also, while the photographers taking these pictures are incredibly talented, it is incredibly difficult to get a picture of someone running at any distance, let alone any distance beyond a 10K, that won’t make that person cringe.
This is especially true when you’re running through a rain storm, as I did while running a half marathon on Sunday in a near constant downpour that soaked my body and my soul as I cursed myself nearly every step of the way.
You wouldn’t know that I was miserable by looking at the pictures from the race, however, because in every single one of them, both of my thumbs are up.
This is a habit I consciously developed last summer during my first Chicago Marathon training cycle. I was out on a training run on the lakefront path and trying to figure out what to do with my hands and arms while I was running.
These are the kinds of internal conversations that you have with yourself when you’re running long distances — “What do giraffes dream about?” (Probably really leafy trees or conversing with elephants) “I should really eat healthier so these runs will go smoother.” (Yeah, but pizza tastes better plus why am I running all this way if I can’t gorge myself on pizza after?) “My arms and hands are just…here while my legs do most of the work during these runs. What could I do with them to make this whole thing more fun that doesn’t involve juggling?” (Well, actually…)
Anyways, I vaguely remember noticing a group of other runners running in the opposite direction and I gave them two thumbs up, as a means of encouraging and acknowledging them.
They smiled. They returned the gesture. It stuck.
Ever since then, I’ve tried keeping my thumbs up throughout most of my longer runs. It’s something I still have to think about doing, meaning I haven’t gotten to the point where running with both thumbs up is automatic, but it’s something I’ve done with increasing frequency particularly on longer runs.
Here’s why I continue to do it:
It helps me mentally: Distance running is almost as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one, your mind constantly reminding you that you could be walking or doing literally anything else and instead you’re choosing to run really far for no real reason at all. I’ve found that the act of keeping both of my thumbs up while running puts me in a more positive mental state than when I don’t. Keeping a positive mental state while running makes the whole running experience that much more pleasant.
You connect with others: Distance running can be, by its very nature, a very impersonal and lonely exercise. Unless you’re running with a partner or in a group, you’re out by yourself for a lengthy period of time. Most runners, and most people in general, tend to respond positively to a thumbs up, even if said thumbs up is being given for no apparent reason and will return the gesture.
It requires no effort: Running with both thumbs up requires no additional effort whatsoever. You just keep your normal arm swing that you normally have while running, just keep both of your thumbs up throughout. You won’t be any more tired or expend any more energy than if you just ran with your fists balled or your palms open or however it is you choose to run. Plus, you’ll stand out (kind of) from all the other weekend warriors out there who are grinding it out.
Keeping your thumbs up while running certainly doesn’t make me faster (my 2:21 half marathon finish was more than an hour and ten minutes behind the winner of that race), however, it does put me in a better frame of mind while running, which is why I’m going to keep giving two thumbs up during my long runs.
To learn more about Open Heart Magic, which has more than 120 volunteers that go around to Chicago hospitals and teach kids how to do magic tricks and is the charity that I’m running the Chicago Marathon for, please click here and consider donating.
