Strider #3 (mini-sode) A Marathon Fable

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.

Episode Transcript

Announcer (00:07):
enjoy this bonus C E S mini episode

Narrator (00:12):
The Snail Tale, A Marathon Fable Once upon a time,
there was a snail who signed upto run a marathon.
Now, the thought of a snailcompleting a marathon seemed a
little crazy.
But this snail was determined.
This little snail took all theproper steps to set himself up
for success.
Nothing would stop him.

(00:35):
He found himself an experiencedcoach, and a proven training
plan, and went straight to work.
Sticking strictly to histraining schedule, the snail
wasted no time.
Intervals, Tempo runs, farleks,and of course his long runs.
He took all the advice his coachhad to offer, learning the
importance of form, nutrition,and hydration, and treating each

(00:58):
run as practice for race day.
There were good workouts and afew bad ones, but this snail was
focused on sticking to theprogram.
As his coach had been tellinghim all season,

Coach (01:10):
Training was the time to test things out, but nothing new
on race day.

Narrator (01:15):
On the morning of his longest training run, the
infamous 20 miler, he was eagerto test everything he had been
practicing.
During that run, he stuck to hisplan, and used all the
strategies that he had beenpolishing all season.
When he finished that run, hewas beside himself with pride.
All his discipline and hard workhad seemed to pay off.

(01:37):
He was actually going to be ableto do this thing.
Brimming with confidence, heentered his taper.
But as his mileage began todecrease and his workouts became
shorter, something happened.
Doubt slowly began to creep in.

Snail (01:52):
I have worked so hard for so long"

Narrator (01:54):
He thought.

Snail (01:55):
"What if I am not ready?"

Narrator (01:57):
As race day grew closer, scenarios of failure and
panic continued to float aroundhis tiny, snaily head.
As the panic increased, he foundhimself reaching for anything he
thought could guarantee success.

Snail (02:11):
Maybe I should try KT tape, or possibly the latest
trendy new super food wouldhelp.

Narrator (02:17):
Then it came to him.

Snail (02:19):
If I wasn't dragging around this giant shell on my
back, I'd probably be muchfaster.

Narrator (02:24):
He thought.

Snail (02:25):
There'd be less weight, reduced wind resistance, and no
chance of chafing.

Narrator (02:31):
The next day he couldn't wait to share his
revelation with his coach.
Upon hearing the snails plan thecoach just shook her head.

Coach (02:39):
"It was the day before the race, now was not the time
to try anything new"

Narrator (02:43):
she told the nervous snail.
The coach then continued toassure the snail that he was
ready.
Until the snail agreed to relaxand trust his training.
The night before the race, thelittle snail tossed and turned,
thinking about all the hard workhe had put in and the sacrifices
he had made.
In the morning, he made a lastminute decision.

Snail (03:04):
I have invested way too much to fail,

Narrator (03:06):
he declared, as he tossed his shell aside.
So the snail made it to thestart line of his big race,
feeling lighter, sleeker, andready to run.
But when the gun finally wentoff and the race began, the
snail found it hard to getstarted.
And once he did, he realized hecouldn't even move at a snail's
pace.

(03:27):
What the snail quicklydiscovered was running without
his shell only made him moresluggish.
Learn from the Lesson of theSnail's Tale.
Nothing new on race day.