The Mysterious Power of Superstition in Running

Hello, fellow Runpreneurs! Kevin Brittain here, back on consecutive day 1577 of my ultimate ultra marathon journey. Today, I want to dive into a topic that is quite fascinating and somewhat enigmatic—superstition. Do you believe in conspiracies, superstition, or even fate? It's interesting to consider how these might influence something as concrete and physical as running. Even if you're sceptical, stick around; you might find this perspective intriguing.

Let's get the ball rolling by talking about an eerie yet compelling experience I had recently. This weekend, I'm running the Loch Ness Marathon in Inverness, up in the breathtaking Highlands of Scotland. Now, here's where things get interesting. My personal best (PB) in marathon running stands at 3:24:48. I've been rigorously training to clock in at around 3 hours 15 minutes, although my current fitness level suggests that might be a bit ambitious. However, when I received my race number, it read 24:48. The exact numbers in my personal best time! Coincidence? Maybe. But for me, it feels like more—a sign, perhaps.

You see, I have a soft spot for believing that certain powers in the universe can influence our lives in ways that science can't always explain. It’s a comforting notion, that something bigger than ourselves might be subtly guiding us, sending signals that shape our decisions. And this race number has me convinced that aiming for an ambitious time like sub 3:15 might not be the plan the universe has for me right now. Instead, it seems to be pushing me to concentrate on bettering my current PB.

With this newfound 'sign', I've decided on the fly to reassess my race strategy. Sometimes in life, you come across signs that are just too significant to ignore, and I believe this is one of them. Rather than chasing the sub 3:15, which I may not be fully fit to achieve, I'm setting my new goal to beat 3:24:48. I'll be thrilled if I get anywhere close to 3:20. This way, I allow myself a bit of a buffer for the inevitable strains that hit during the marathon and still aim for a respectable finish time.

So, what's the takeaway here? Sometimes, coincidences are more than that. They could be messages or signs directing us toward a more attainable or sensible goal. You might call it superstition, conspiracy, or fate, but believing in something larger than ourselves can be incredibly uplifting. It's a comforting, almost magical thought that there's more to our journey than just what meets the eye.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you believe in superstitions, conspiracies, or fate? Have you ever had an experience where a seemingly random occurrence felt like a guiding sign? Please drop a line in the comments or send me a message. Remember, if you support my mission of saving children's lives by running consecutive ultra marathons around the world barefoot, do give this post a like, subscribe, share, and comment. The more eyes we reach, the more funds we raise, and the more lives we can save.

Thank you, as always, for your support. Stay positive, stay happy, and I’ll catch you again tomorrow.

Kevin Brittain