What valuable race-day lesson could a runner possibly learn from a gastropod mollusk AKA snail?
On this mini episode we share the tale of a determined little snail with big dreams of finishing a marathon. After months of training, doubt clouds the snail's mind on the eve of the race. The moral of this slimy yet uplifting tale will resonate with anyone struggling to stay the course.
The journey of this ambitious snail will warm your heart and give you the motivation to slug it out, step-by-step.
Announcer:
enjoy this bonus C E S mini episode
Narrator:
The Snail Tale, A Marathon Fable Once upon a time, there was a snail who signed up to run a marathon. Now, the thought of a snail completing a marathon seemed a little crazy. But this snail was determined. This little snail took all the proper steps to set himself up for success. Nothing would stop him. He found himself an experienced coach, and a proven training plan, and went straight to work. Sticking strictly to his training schedule, the snail wasted no time. Intervals, Tempo runs, farleks, and of course his long runs. He took all the advice his coach had to offer, learning the importance of form, nutrition, and hydration, and treating each run as practice for race day. There were good workouts and a few bad ones, but this snail was focused on sticking to the program. As his coach had been telling him all season,
Coach:
Training was the time to test things out, but nothing new on race day.
Narrator:
On the morning of his longest training run, the infamous 20 miler, he was eager to test everything he had been practicing. During that run, he stuck to his plan, and used all the strategies that he had been polishing all season. When he finished that run, he was beside himself with pride. All his discipline and hard work had seemed to pay off. He was actually going to be able to do this thing. Brimming with confidence, he entered his taper. But as his mileage began to decrease and his workouts became shorter, something happened. Doubt slowly began to creep in.
Snail:
I have worked so hard for so long"
Narrator:
He thought.
Snail:
"What if I am not ready?"
Narrator:
As race day grew closer, scenarios of failure and panic continued to float around his tiny, snaily head. As the panic increased, he found himself reaching for anything he thought could guarantee success.
Snail:
Maybe I should try KT tape, or possibly the latest trendy new super food would help.
Narrator:
Then it came to him.
Snail:
If I wasn't dragging around this giant shell on my back, I'd probably be much faster.
Narrator:
He thought.
Snail:
There'd be less weight, reduced wind resistance, and no chance of chafing.
Narrator:
The next day he couldn't wait to share his revelation with his coach. Upon hearing the snails plan the coach just shook her head.
Coach:
"It was the day before the race, now was not the time to try anything new"
Narrator:
she told the nervous snail. The coach then continued to assure the snail that he was ready. Until the snail agreed to relax and trust his training. The night before the race, the little snail tossed and turned, thinking about all the hard work he had put in and the sacrifices he had made. In the morning, he made a last minute decision.
Snail:
I have invested way too much to fail,
Narrator:
he declared, as he tossed his shell aside. So the snail made it to the start line of his big race, feeling lighter, sleeker, and ready to run. But when the gun finally went off and the race began, the snail found it hard to get started. And once he did, he realized he couldn't even move at a snail's pace. What the snail quickly discovered was running without his shell only made him more sluggish. Learn from the Lesson of the Snail's Tale. Nothing new on race day.