bioinformatics

Why I say running is good for research career

I was fortunately to have a Skype interview with my PhD supervisor David Smith in Dec. 2015, when my first full marathon running would kick off in three days in ShenZhen, China. For anyone who has ever participated the full marathon, the weekly training is necessary to get the body used to the high intense strength during the 42.195km event. While I was training on the treadmill or the trail path, many thoughts were actually formed for the interview during that time. For example, what is my expertise? What should I say about my interest to his research area? How will I proceed next for the research area. See more from here: Standing by: Ready for bioinformatics interview?

Come back to the topic, same to Haruki Murakami, who is fond of running, he has to totally commit to whatever he does. He couldnot do something clever like doing sth while running others. He has to give it everything he had. If he failed, he could accept it. But if he knew he did things halfheartedly and they did not work out, he would always have regrets. Whether you believe or not, Alan Turing who invented the machine to break Enigma coded messages during WWII is a runner. He said “I have such a stressful job that the only way I can get it out of my mind is by running hard; it’s the only way I can get some release.” Indeed, releasing stress is one benefit from running, another is to inspire ideas. Outside of bench work requires a lot of thinking process.

Running marathon is much more of a mental journey than the 42.195km physical journey.

1. 5km “Hey, this is easier than I thought, I don’t need water, I feel OK.”
2. 10km Still a long way to go. “all good. “
3. 20km Slow down a little bit, legs feel tighter, and a little bit bored. “Should I chat with someone, the audience are in high spirit.” “Anyway, half way already, I did half already, look at myself and I could do it, so maintain my pace.”
4. 27km “Wait never end? damn hurt, when will be next water station. I have to walk to rest my knees, but so many people are watching me ”
5. 35km “why I was passed over by so many people. It is hard to move my legs and it feels so heavy. My body is on strike. should I stop?” “I should do something to reach a compromise with my body. let me think about others to forget the pains, e.g. music, food and scenry? ”
6. 40km “Fuck, keep up, I could do it, this really hurts , but I should continue. Almost there! I got do this. I am going to finish this damn marathon.” it is so painful, I feel I am dying“
7. 42.195km “I cannot believe I made it, I made it.” “that was awesome, I feel awesome…hey, maybe I could do another one of those sometime.” “I feel I am dying at 40km, but now I want to die it again.”

A dream, or a goal. I did it, and no one stopped me. I cannot tell you how wonderful this feels. I hope to experience this in many other aspects of my life, and that this was just the beginning. Running a marathon makes you feel like you CAN, because you just DID it.”