| My jaw drops every time Roger Federer returns a | | | | replacements. Yes, one might engage in a slower |
| crushing serve at 130-140 mph to his opponent. For | | | | pace or walk while entering the midpoint of a race. |
| some, matching Bobby Jones's classic elegant swing is | | | | But pull to a complete stop and recovering lost time |
| equivalent to reaching the epitome of sporting | | | | is out of the question. |
| success. But calling tennis or golf or any other the | | | | Next comes the long, winding road. A 26-mile run is a |
| hardest sport is debatable. I personally believe that | | | | daunting task, even for a seasoned marathoner. |
| running a marathon is the toughest sport out there. | | | | Putting the body through a test like this for a stretch |
| Agreed, all other sports like baseball, rugby or golf | | | | of three hours entails physical and mental exhaustion |
| require finely-tuned mental and physical co-ordination | | | | to the brink of pain and numbness. |
| and each tests you at different levels of strength, | | | | Many tend to simply switch off their brains, distancing |
| stamina and psychological prowess. But none of them | | | | themselves from the pain. This may work for some, |
| push the limit like running 26.2 miles under 3 hours, in | | | | but most of the best athletes refrain from doing so. |
| a climate that may or may not be conducive to | | | | Yes, they feel the pain too. But they choose to |
| comfort and without a single pit stop. Nor is there | | | | accept the aches, tune their bodies to adapt to each |
| any technology to lean on. It's just you and your | | | | situation and reach the finish line. This is what makes |
| body against the elements-from the start to the | | | | for an elite runner. |
| finish line. | | | | Where's the strategy involved? In a tennis match, |
| "The Mile Has All The Elements Of A Drama!" said Sir | | | | strategy is critical to break the opponent's game. |
| Roger Gilbert Bannister, a former athlete who couldn't | | | | That strategy needs to be modified every time rivals |
| have put it better. Dedication, determination, | | | | decide to spring a surprise. So, if Andre Agassi |
| exhilaration, pain, action and emotion, you name it. | | | | capitalized on his serve and volley tactics, Pete |
| Unlike baseball or golf where the main focus is to | | | | Sampras had to rely on more than his super-smooth |
| match hand-eye movement and complement it with | | | | aces to stay put in the game. |
| a stroke that is pure brute power, or adapt and | | | | Similarly, during a marathon it is crucial to strategize |
| change your strategy tactically in tennis and NASCAR | | | | the entire route to protect the body from burnout. |
| racing, a marathon I believe is the hardest sport on | | | | Some runners make the mistake of going too fast in |
| the body. There are several reasons why. | | | | the beginning to take the lead, they run the risk of |
| First, most runners train on hard, concrete ground. | | | | losing fuel mid way and lagging off at the finish line. |
| The pounding legs and joints feel every time feet | | | | What makes running the best sport of all is that |
| touch the pavement and leap back up is at least four | | | | everyone is a winner. Oh yes, there are the |
| times a runner's body weight. And this continues for | | | | proverbial 1st, 2nd and runner up spots, but the |
| the entire distance! | | | | ephemeral experience of a race well run is |
| Secondly, there are no 10-minute rest room breaks, | | | | unexplainable. And for anyone still unconvinced, put |
| fuel recharge pit stops or injury time outs or | | | | on your tennis shoes and hit the streets! |