Submission at 500 metres: What My Second Marathon Taught Me About Trust

If there is such a thing as a theory in running, then I believe the marathon bug may have bitten me.

I say this because my original plan was to run my second marathon in March. January whispered, please pick me. And just like that, the Johnson Crane Hire Marathon became my second full marathon completion. You may think that a novice marathoner like myself would wait a little longer before attempting another marathon. 

I beg to differ–because running, much like life, has no manual. There is no fixed guide. We take leaps of faith, trust the process and believe that things will work out for our good as they unfold. That was my approach to the Johnson Crane marathon. Training, fueling and running strategy aside, I chose to trust the process. 

Of course, trusting the process is not easy. Every race presents an opportunity to learn. 

This was my second full marathon and it reinforced something unexpected in me: submission. Yes, submission. For me, submission meant surrendering control, trusting leadership and allowing myself to be guided. I did exactly that. All my carefully thought-out strategies went out the window when, about 500 metres into the race, I hopped onto a bus. 

In running terminology, a bus is a group of runners guided by experienced pacers aiming for a specific finish time. 

I didn’t have a specific finish time in mind. I am still navigating what it means to be a marathoner and for now finishing matters more than time. Hopping onto the bus became a strategic decision. I wanted to experience the infectious energy that comes with these buses and immerse myself in it. What I didn’t anticipate was that I would be the only passenger for most of the race. 

To my surprise, I was coping, dying and resurrecting all the way through. You  may wonder why I didn’t get off the bus. My strategy was simple: I wanted to learn how to pace myself. More than that, I wanted to submit–to be led, guided and coached throughout the race. 

What I received was patience, passion and generosity. My pacer took me through the marathon with care, teaching me lessons I could only have learned by surrendering control.

My spirit and heart were ready to receive the teachings.  Although the bus became expensive along the way, she carried me close to 30km. 

Sometimes some races are not about performance– they are about surrender and learning. 

The Johnson Crane Marathon was exactly that for me: a teachable moment. I remain eternally grateful to my pacers, Vuvu and Richy. They taught me invaluable lessons–not only about running, but about life. 

Growth requires humility. It requires accepting help and guidance. To become a strong runner, you must surround yourself with runners who are stronger than yourself. 

I’ll see you at my next marathon. 

Phiwe Mncwabe is a pan-African storyteller, blogger and founder of Botlhale Hub Afrika.

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