How I Prepared For a 4-Mile Race in 8 Weeks (as Someone Who Hates Running)

A visual log

The author, <1 minute before the finish line — Image by Marathon Photos

“If you hate running, why would you sign up for a race?”

For:

• The athlete photos
• To prove to myself I can train for hard things
• For my ego, to get a medal, and walk around and brag with said medal after the race like a douchebag
• Moreover, I want to know how it feels.

Will I feel butterflies upon hearing the starting shot? Excited to be a part of the event? A sense of accomplishment once I finally see the finish line?

One way to find out.

A bucket list run for people from the region

The 4 Mijl van Groningen traditionally takes place on the second Sunday of October in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Screenshot made by the author in Xnapper. Groningen is the northeasternmost province in the Netherlands, with as the capital city: Groningen!

Image shot by the author in Groningen on a gloomy day

The race starts in the adjacent village of Haren, located south of Groningen city.