The Marathon Monks of Japan

A colleague of mine recently visited Japan and his return told me a story about how he was able to locate and interview a member of 89 years of the "Marathon Monks". The monks are so dubbed because of a trip some of them voluntarily. It is a journey that must run 25 miles every day for 100 days, then more and more and more until it just becomes this human effort only focused on one ambition, to initiate and complete the task today. The old monk said that wipes the slate clean every night and morning wakes to new life. Commitment of each day should be completed in order to proceed the next day. In essence every time you die and are born again dream every time you get up.

The monks follow a route that takes them through a varied terrain, including some of the mountains. They have only straw sandals that are made to protect your feet. Your diet is one of hunger, only allowing yourself enough sustenance to stay alive. The 89 year-old monk was one of only two ever completed a marathon, not once but twice. That "s right after the first marathon out of life he chose to do it twice. What drives a man? Over 40 years of his life were spent in the way. A trail that winds through the tombs of many of their brethren who have tried and failed before him, the brothers firmly believes that the spirits still walk the walk every night.

But their fate was brothers from starvation or exhaustion. And it came to their own hands. By the time the journey began two things were given a piece of rope and a knife. I forget what the chord is to the knife, but was to kill yourself. For if on any day, for some reason did not this ambition day I had to kill himself. That's all there is no alternative. So, life or death. Seriously!

I was amazed when I heard this and wondered what led a man of commitment, to end his own life if not achieving the aspiration of the day. What convinced him credit for carrying out an obsession? What a great reward that was willing to change your life? We'll never know, but goes to show, no knife to carry rare on the roads to run in Japan as here in the good old USA