What Have the Marathon Runner and the Writer Got in Common?
It’s the Winter Olympics and all the sexier, high octane sports are getting into the news. Speed and jeopardy is making news. Me, I love those sports people who are ‘stalwarts’ of their sport, in it for their passion, not phased by not being in the lime-light, but proud to participate nevertheless. Those athletes honing their craft year round, without the glare of publicity shows a certain tenacity and passion.
The other day, I witnessed an example of the year-round dedication to perfection on my doorstep. I was walking my dog in freezing conditions in the foothills at the back of my house, where world champion cross-country cyclists and runners, alongside local fire-men and policemen are out in all weathers, staying fit, eyes on the horizon…
What struck me in this biting cold, was a sexy silver Bentley crawling along ahead of a heavy-set runner in tiny thin shorts, built like a rugby player, with legs red raw with the cold. He looked as if he had been out for hours in these punishing conditions!
I was fascinated by this starkly contrasting scene: between the grim determination and obvious hardship of that athlete was putting himself through, with what seemed to be his luxurious chauffeur driven car, by his side for the moment he was ready and which had the markings ‘winner’ and luxury all over it. (I am not sure which I was most impressed with!)
Whilst I might not have a Bentley, I also felt like I knew something of this runner’s mindset. I felt myself willing him every heavy footfall forward… Pushing oneself against the odds can be a tough and lonely place to be…The battle is with the self as much as the elements.
I am not an athlete, but understand the long-distance runner. I write more and more these days, both out of passion for this type of marketing, but also because my sights are also set on a horizon. I am beginning to follow what has consistently been a part of my life which I have never shared with others, until now. Now, I am writing as much as for the long-game of business success as the love of what I do, my sporadic compositions are becoming a practised discipline.
It feels a little like The Lonliness of the Long-Distance Runner, like in that Damon Runyan book. If there are any other writers reading right now, I am sure you will understand the sentiment. I know that readers appreciate what I say, because I see the stat’s; but still my public awards in the form of the desired links and comments are not there for me to polish up and point to as evidence of ‘making it’.
The point about article marketing and copywriting in the long-term sales cycle is that you want to take as many converts and fans with you on your journeys of discovery to getting those finish lines where everyone wins.
Understanding that even long-distance champions have their teams that they turn to sometimes for recognition who contribute to making them successful makes me determined to hone my craft.
With this in mind I wrote an article based on Eban Pagan’s ‘Voodoo Copywriting’ teachings, about how I see the dynamics of copywriting, which I hope that you too can relate too (and secretly, I hope you will check my stuff out and give me some great feedback at the finish line to spur me on to the next leg of my marketing marathon!!)
So, “What have the marathon Runner and the Writer Got In Common?”
Answer: Persistence, passion and finishing line focus.
I 
Writing!
What is it that inspires you to stick with it in the chillier Winter periods? What does your horizon look like that you keep your eyes fixed on?
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