Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King and the civil Rights...

How would you feel if you were told you can’t sit in the front of the bus or you can’t dine in a certain restaurants because of the color of your skin? The civil rights movement was a movement that held massive numbers of nonviolent protest against racial segregation and discrimination in America especially the southern states during the 1950’s and 60’s. The struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights in America during this time was a major problem. The civil rights movement was not only about stopping racial segregation amongst African Americans but also to challenge the terrible economic, political, and cultural consequences of that time. But with the help of great leaders and organizations in the civil rights†¦show more content†¦King’s SCLC organization allied with other organizations to protest against racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. In the city of Birmingham, there were laws that made it legal for segregation. The m ayor and police commissioner of Birmingham at that time were segregationist who would treat blacks violently. Also, â€Å"the governor of the state George Wallace, won office with promises of segregation forever†. In Birmingham there were several black churches and homes that was bombed, including the homes of SCLC members who campaigned for civil rights. King grew tired of the violent treatment of blacks and he decided to set up headquarters at a motel for him and his organizers to recruit volunteers for protests marches and boycotts through the techniques of nonviolence in Birmingham. The protesting and boycotting began with, marches in the city hall, lunch counter sit ins, stores, etc. and white business owners was losing a significant amount money and some of them decided to desegregate their business and begin hiring blacks. More and more people showed up each day, even though some were placed in jail. The City officials of Birmingham stuck to their segregation laws and acquired a sanction prohibiting the protests and boycotts. King was able to convince his organizers to continue to protest and boycott while violating such sanctions. ThisShow MoreRelatedEssay On Maya Angelou1400 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 2017 America’s Poet The life experiences of the late Maya Angelou —author, poet, actress, singer, dancer, playwright, director, producer — became the key element of her most prominent work, a lyrical poet telling the stories of what it means to be an African American; having a wide range, multi-series autobiographies that lays the foundation of her identity as a American black woman. The acclaimed Maya Angelou’s legacy not only impacted American culture that will resonate withRead MoreMalcolm X And Maya Angelou And A Homemade Education1791 Words   |  8 PagesStates people of color were not given the same rights as white men. In â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther King Jr., â€Å"Graduation† by Maya Angelou and â€Å"A Homemade Education† by Malcolm X, the authors discuss their experiences and fight against inequality. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou were just a few of the hundreds of thousands of blacks who restlessly foug ht for civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou showed that in the face of adversity to persevereRead MoreMaya Angelous Great Influence and Success Essay679 Words   |  3 Pagesnovelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and even a civil rights activist. During her early years while still in High School Dr. Angelou experienced brutal racial discrimination directing her to the values of traditional African-Americans. In High School Dr. Angelou received a scholarship for a labor school in San Francisco but eventually dropping out. During the years of 1954 and 1955 Dr. Angelou toured Europe with a production named Porgey and Bess these would be her startingRead MoreEssay about Maya Angelou1434 Words   |  6 Pages Maya Angelou is one of the most influential and talented African American writers of our modern day. Those who read Angelou‘s works should not pass the thought of where her influence came from. Maya Angelou’s work has been heavily affected by the era in which she began to write. The fifties and sixties were a tumultuous time for most African-Americans in the US. The civil-rights movement, led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, MartinRead MoreMaya Angelou Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesMaya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bir d Sings, in which she recalls herself as a young African American girl findingRead MoreThe Life Of Marguerite Johnson1011 Words   |  5 Pageshad given Marguerite a nickname Maya. (noteablebiograophies.com) Living with her grandmother , she gained so much confidence and pride. Her grandmother was the one to show her how to live with her self and be content with it. Visiting her mother back to her home town St. Louis, Missouri she was raped by her mother s boyfriend. Maya testified against him which was very hard on her since she was only an eight year old. Her uncles beat the offender to death. Maya felt as if she killed him becauseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Still I Rise 893 Words   |  4 Pagesprejudice and injustice in this nation for many decades. The quest for equality and civil rights has been a never ending struggle even before the famous 1960’s civil rights movement that was spear headed by Martin Luther King Jr. and many others. Even though Thomas Jefferson wrote the famous words in the Declaration of Independence â€Å"all men are created equal† ( ), we are consistently observing that the fight for human rights and equality still exist today. Although African Americans have experienced andRead MoreEssay On Maya Angelou1879 Words   |  8 PagesMaya Angelou is one of the most important American Authors who ever lived. She was an African-American woman who spoke her mind and when someone told her she couldn’t do something, it made her want to do it even more so that she could prove them wrong (Shapiro). Her life was incredibly difficult, but it made her who she was and influenced her writing and poetry immensely. As Gary Younge once said, â€Å"To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on earth you have been doing with yourRead MoreAn Analysis Of Maya Angelou And Alice Walker927 Words   |  4 PagesMaya Angelou and Alice Walker are two well-known contemporary African- American writers. Although both women are from different generations they share some of the same qualities and experiences. Both women used their past experiences of tragedy and hardship as a stepping stool for growth by turning that pain into what now are famous stories and poems. For most writers, majority of their work stem from their own experiences, and for both Alice and Maya a great deal of their works regarded the dilemmasRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement And The American Civil Movement958 Wor ds   |  4 Pages The Civil Rights Movement, also known as the American Civil Rights Movement and other names, is a term that encompasses the strategies, groups, and social movements in the United States whose goals were to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and to secure legal recognition and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the Constitution and federal law. The movement was characterized by major campaigns of civil resistance. Between 1955 and 1968

How the Capacity of the Internet Has Changed the Way Companies Can Do Term Paper

Essays on How the Capacity of the Internet Has Changed the Way Companies Can Do Business Term Paper The paper "How the Capacity of the Internet Has Changed the Way Companies Can Do Business" is a great example of a term paper on e-commerce. The internet has indeed paved new ways through which companies are doing business. The advent of the internet paved the way for different types of e-commerce such as business-to-business, business-to-customers, customers-to-customers and business-to-employees. B2B is largely used by companies such as Alibaba Group while B2C e-commerce is used largely by companies such as LL. Bean. Online business transactions have increased the revenue generation in many companies worldwide. The geographical location of businesses is no longer a matter of concern to many companies because communication has been enhanced by the internet regardless of the location of businesses globally. Sales from the B2B transactions are also generated through the provision of specialized service or product that is completely unavailable in the market.2.0 IntroductionThe interne t has transformed the manner in which companies do business. This has been necessitated by the extent of information companies are able to access and send as well as the exchange of business ideas over the internet (Rowley, 2008). The speed with which procurement, selling, marketing, and many other business activities are undertaken has increased drastically as a result of the advent of the internet. The geographical location of businesses is no longer a matter of concern to many companies because communication has been enhanced by the inert regardless of the location of businesses globally.Online business transactions have increased the revenue generation in many companies worldwide. The internet has made it possible for B2B, B2C, B2G, C2C, and B2E transactions to thrive because the internet has simplified how such transactions are carried out (Rowley, 2008). For example, a B2B transaction that involves large volumes of transactions and numerous exchanges of documents is made possi ble by the internet because large volumes of data are exchanged within a very short time.The transactions and business deals are sealed over the internet thus eliminating the hurdles encountered in manual business transactions such as delays in relaying documents and sometimes the loss of business documents (Rowley, 2008). The internet has also increased the competitive advantage of businesses by ensuring that products are delivered in time to the retailers and consumers because companies are able to get on-time information regarding the situation of demand on the ground before the company's stocks run out.The focus of this report is to explore how the capacity of the internet has changed the way companies can do business. In this regard, the specific purpose is to define and briefly discuss each type of B2B, B2C, C2C and B2E websites where the main goals of these websites and the principal elements included in these websites will be discussed.

Statutory Obligations - Requirements and Constraints in Ethics

Question: Discuss about the Statutory Obligations, Requirements and Constraints in Ethics? Answer: Introduction Over the past few years, there has been development and expansion in the quality and range of family and child services in Australia. it is important to adopt a child centered and family focused approach when providing support to a child who has experienced issues of abuse and neglect. In order to build family resources and necessary kinship connections, it is imperative to focus on the immediate family, and actively involve the parents, the extended family and the support system (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2010). Section 5A of the Child Protection Act 1999 of the Australian law recognizes the importance of adopting a child centered approach by asserting that the best interests, well being and safety of a child should be considered paramount in any intervention (Queensland 2016). Consequently, family and child services comprise a blend of proven, established and innovative practices and interventions. The purpose of this paper is to is to develop a multilayered intervention plan for providing mental health and psychosocial support for a child struggling with abuse and neglect issues. Zoe is a young girl living with her mother, and little brother raised by a drunk and abusive father. The father was arrested for domestic violence and abuse, while Zoe ends up in foster care due to ensuing mental issues. This aims to develop a multi-layered plan to provide psychosocial support and reunite Zoe, her little brother and mother to live in safety. The figure below provides the proposed multi-layered intervention plan. A care package does not provide clear and specific interventions that need to be to be provided, instead it focuses on prioritizing the transfer of clients among the various components that represent the care continuum ( Belfer et al. 2007). In his conceptual framework, Hardiker, Exton and Barker (1991) offer an illustration of the provision of services at the different levels based on the health, developmental and challenges experienced by the client. The base level constitutes the universal services available to all children and families in Australia. It is imperative to note that child neglect and abuse cannot be separated from issues such as homelessness, poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, social isolation, mental health issues, and domestic violence (Commonwealth of Australia 2008). It follows that the provision of universal services, at the basic level, comprising policy framework to ensure poverty reduction, peace and security, good quality housing, income support, childcare , access to education and health, and other services play a critical preventative role concerning issues of child abuse and neglect (Commonwealth of Australia 2008). In normal circumstances, the provision of general universal services and the efforts from the family are adequate to meet the needs of the family, implying that there is no need for additional targeted interventions (Hardiker, Exton and Barker 1991). Nevertheless, in the case of Zoe, there is a clear violation of the basic universal services as the child is denied of her right to the services identified above. Moreover, the family unit is completely in dysfunctional due to the abusive father and non-protective mother. There is a clear lack of family effort to support Zoe and her young brother to feel safe and secure at the family level. In such circumstances, level 1 interventions comprising targeted social services are necessary. These services target the general population, or the entire target group and/ or community with the intension of aiding them to prevent the development of psychosocial problems. It is presumed that some parents need additional help and assistance above their own resources and the provisions of the universal services. The level 1 services are designed to provide care to the entire community, including promoting community resilience, establishing adaptive adjustments, community mobilization and community psychosocial education. Level 2 interventions are targeted to address early risks when they are detected or when they become obvious. These interventions comprise services that target children, families or sub-groups with identified risks to address emerging mild problems or prevent the development of mental health problems. The intervention is designed to prevent arising temporary crisis or address early difficulties to stop them from getting worse. Interventions are focused to prevent or reduce any emerging psychosocial distress and the approaches include placements, and task-centered methods. Second level support may vary from counseling , to parental support and classroom based psychosocial support for school going children. Level 3 interventions are targeted to address established difficulties or serious risks among clients. They target the treatment of children or target subgroups demonstrating severe challenges or extreme mental health issues. This level of intervention targets and addresses serious psychosocial stresses, including family breakdown, risk of significant harm and might include significant forced entry into a care system. The aim of level 3 interventions is to reduce any form of severe psychological distress, high risk behaviors, and significantly lower suicidal risks among children and family members. Moreover, level three interventions seek to address identified difficulties, establish links between children and family, facilitate parenting skills and restore family functioning. The goal is to achieve a reunion of the children with the family and foster independent living. Child Development and related Attachment Theories My plan is going to be influenced by theories surrounding child development and attachment issues. My understanding of child development is critical in assisting me to offer the most relevant and appropriate care to Zoe, her brother and mother. The theoretical background and framework will enable me to determine whether Zoe is proceeding as expected or not. Maslow (1968) highlighted the needs that every child has, including psychological, physiological, egotistical, and social and security, among others. Moreover, Pringle (2013) lists a number of needs that children require to be met in order to achieve satisfactory development including responsibility, security, new experiences, love, recognition and praise. The attachment theory argues that there is an interdependent link between the children care seeking behavior and the parent care provision (Bowlby 1969). A child who is seeking care expects that the adult parent would be available to provide the requisite comfort and protection that reduce sense of fear and satisfactorily meets their needs. It follows that the child will be attached to the caregiver, be it a parent or social worker that provides adequate care that meets their needs. In the case of Zoe, she feels insecure and unsafe. She is alone and has developed emotional trauma, especially when the memories of violence and abuse keeps coming back to haunt her. It would take serious care to win her trust, make her feel comfortable, safe and secure. According to the attachment theory, failure to meet Zoes care seeking goals implies that her behavior will become intense and this will ultimately weaken her attachment. It is important to focus on providing secure early relationships with Zoe, to secure good behavioral, cognitive and emotional outcomes. According to Seden (2002), there is need for early intervention targeted towards supporting primary caregivers, in this case Zoes mother, who has difficulties in establishing sensitive attachments because they have a long-term impact on the development of the child. Involve the child through establishment of resilience groups (level 1) I intend to involve Zoe in the plan through establishment of a child resilient group to offer her the required psychosocial support. Resilience is a concept that refers to the ability of a child or person to achieve recovery from a past challenging or traumatic event. According to Masten (2001), resilience relates to attaining good outcomes regardless of serious developmental or adaptation threats. In Australia, there has been a shift in focus of the psychosocial support programs from treating emerging symptoms to addressing and promoting resilience among children (Flynn, Dudding and Barber, 2006). Researchers have identified factors that contribute to the development of resilience among children, including competent parenting, positive peer relations, close social support, group activities and a high sense of self-worth (Tol et al., 2009). Seden (2002) observe that problem solving ability, pro-social relationships with adults and developing mental capacity to make sense of the abuse and neglect are critical to attainment of resilience. In the case of Zoe, she has to develop resilience from a childhood of domestic violence and abuse from her father. It is possible to build resilience by careful planning and supporting Zoe to go through the life changes and establish protective processes to prevent further neglect and abuse (Rutter, 1993). My role as a social worker would be to support Zoe in developing strategies to address the various risk factors in her life, while establishing protective factors to strengthen her resilience (Gilligan, 2001). Moreover, my plan in to establish semi-structured group activities involving Zoe to encourage social support, engage her in recreation with the aim of attaining normalization through peer discussion and group activities. Zoe would engage in weekly semi-structured group activities for 5 weeks with focus being to reduce stigmatization, attain peer support and foster participation. Involving the family through providing parental support (level 2) My plan is to promote and foster parental support in ensuring holistic psychosocial support for Zoe through involving and engaging her family. Interventions that target families, especially parents are critical in establishing strong psychosocial wellbeing of children. This is because the quality and nature of family experiences play an important role in shaping a childs ability to cope while growing up, and influences the quality of their mental health, parenting and relationships in future (Gilligan 1991). According to Wallen and Rubin (1997) family plays a critical role in mediating the potential negative effects of domestic violence, abuse and neglect through parental availability, physical protection and safety, support through communication and emotional sensitivity, and role models for promoting positive coping mechanism through control, safety and regulation of emotions. According to Guralnick (1997), a number of features are important to the child-parent relationship, includ ing the quality of the interaction, the range, appropriateness and diversity of experiences and promotion of childs safety and health. It is important to take care of the needs and context of the family system because strategies that do not engage the parents and children are not effective (McKeown, 2001). My plan entails reunifying Zoe with her younger brother and mother for them to live happily and safely. As indicated in the multi-layered care plan highlighted in the figure above, my focus for level 2 would be provision of family oriented counseling. The focus would be on scheduled home visits with the aim of building the capacity of Zoes mother to offer her the relevant support she needs. Zoe needs more focused care for effective reunion with her mother and brother, hence the need to integrate her family in the counseling process. I will provide a range of family support measures including provision of psycho-education sessions for her mother to increase her awareness and identification of the problem, provision of relevant support required by Zoe, and linking to available social services and support systems. I will also hold individual counseling sessions for Zoes mother to increase her wellbeing, given that she was also a victim of domestic violence, and increase her capacity to perform her caretaking duties. Research evidence indicates that involving parents in the child counseling process has positive outcomes for children and the various training interventions for parents have been found to be very effective (Diamond and Josephson, 2005). It is important to engage with Zoes mother and train her on the importance of getting involved in promoting the wellbeing of her daughter, providing quality care and transforming the behaviors and feelings of her daughter. Using the Ecological Approach to involve the community The Bronfenbrenner (1997) ecological model of child development provides a framework for understanding the critical factors existing in the childs environment and their interrelations. Bronfenbrenner (1997) hypothesizeda number of individual level, contextual, family and macro system risk factors that exposed children to abuse and neglect. The factors were mutually embedded and interrelated, and they often contributed in one way or another to child abuse and neglect (National Research Council, 2014). Contextual factors relate to the broad social system, including the neighborhood, poverty and employment that influence the functioning of the family. Poverty at household and family level arising from poor housing, unemployment, low income and single parenting often led to dysfunctional families, with high level of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. Macro-system risk factors relate to the cultural and social fabric that contribute, perpetuate and maintain issues of domestic vio lence, abuse and neglect among children (National Research Council, 2014). A history of alcohol and substance abuse also contributes significantly to perpetuation, recurrence and continuation of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. Parents with substance abuse problem were likely to engage in domestic violence and inflict physical and psychological abuse to their children and other family members. At the community level, a poor environment has significant social, environment and poor family conditions, which sustain the cycle of abuse and neglect for children (National Research Council, 2014). Lastly, individual characteristics that include inability to handle stress, mental health problems and social isolation all contribute to the creation and sustenance of the risks of child abuse and neglect. The ecological perspective offers some insights into the effects of negative family environments and the potential impact on the child. Studying these environmental factors will provide me understanding of the factors shaping Zoes mental health outcomes and guide me in implementing the multi-layered plan established above. The ecological factors have the potential of escalating the health outcomes and rendering any strategies developed ineffective. I intend to use the information gathered on the ecological factors to design effective strategies for engaging Zoes family, community and surrounding support systems to provide the requisite help she needs to be properly integrated in the community. Statutory obligations, requirements and constraints in ethics In most instances, the ethical standards in social work are always in line with the legal standards. Nevertheless, in some cases there is a conflict especially when the child in concerned. A social worker is expected to report any arising issues that may be considered critical when dealing with children under distress. Yet, the ethical principles require the social worker to maintain confidentiality, and only use the client information for the intended purpose. As a social worker, I will be forced to consider legal guidelines regarding disclosure of confidential information without the client consent. Other issues that may raise conflict is when Zoes parents request to get information and details concerning our social service sessions. Balancing Zoes right to privacy and her parents right to access information about the counseling session may also arise. Through open communication and adherence to the ethical and legal frameworks, my plan will address all issues case by case and ensu re that the best interest of Zoe taken front view. References Belfer, M.L., Remschmidt, H., Nurcombe, B., Okasha, A. and Sartorius, N., 2007. A global programme for child and adolescent mental health: a challenge in the new millennium.The mental health of children and adolescents: An area of global neglect, Edited by: Remschmidt H, Nurcombe B, Belfer M, Sartorius N, Okasha A. 2007, West Sussex: John Wiley Sons, pp.1-11 Bowlby, J., 1969.Attachment and Loss: Attachment; John Bowlby. Basic Books. Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2011. Family Engagement. [Online]. Available: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_fam_engagement Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. Australias Children: Safe and Well. A national framework for protecting Australias Children. Australian Government, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. [Online]. Available: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/childprotectiondiscussionpaper.pdf . Accessed 2 May 2017. Diamond, G. and Josephson, A., 2005. Family-based treatment research: A 10-year update.Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry,44(9), pp.872-887. Flynn, R.J., Dudding, P.M. and Barber, J.G., 2006.Promoting resilience in child welfare. University of Ottawa Press. Gilligan, R., 1991. Family support and child welfare: Realising the promise of the Child Care Act 1991.On behalf of the child: Child welfare, child protection and the Child Care Act, pp.60-83. Gilligan, R., 2001.Promoting resilience: A resource guide on working with children in the care system. London. Guralnick, M.J. ed., 1997. The Effectiveness of Early Intervention. Baltimore: P.H. Brooks. Hardiker, P., Exton, K. and Barker, M., 1991.Policies and practices in preventive child care. Avebury Maslow, A.H., 1968. Towards a Psychology of Being. Second Edition. New York: Van Nostrad Masten, A.S., 2001. Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development.American psychologist,56(3), p.227-238 McKeown, K., 2001. Fathers and Families: Research and Reflection on Key Questions, A Springboard Publication, Department of Health and Children, Dublin: Stationery Office National Research Council, 2014.New directions in child abuse and neglect research. National Academies Press. Pringle, M.K., 2013.The needs of children. Routledge Queensland, 2016. Child Protection Act 1999. [Online]. Available:https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/C/ChildProtectA99.pdf Reinhold. Rutter, M., 1993. Resilience: Some conceptual considerations.Journal of adolescent health,14(8), pp.626-631. Seden, J., 2002. Underpinning Theories for the Assessment of Childrens Needs in Ward, Harriet Rose, Wendy (eds.) Approaches to Needs Assessment in Childrens Services, Jessica Kingsley Tol, W.A., Jordans, M.D., Reis, R. and de Jong, J., 2009. Ecological resilience: working with child-related psychosocial resources in war-affected communities. Wallen, J. and Rubin, R.H., 1997. The role of the family in mediating the effects of community violence on children.Aggression and Violent Behavior,2(1), pp.33-41.

Marathon Running free essay sample

These were a few of the signs I saw as I competed in the Top Of Utah marathon two weeks ago. â€Å"How much further do I have to go? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ Will I still have toenails when I finish? † †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ How old was that lady that just passed me? † These were the thoughts that ran through my head that morning. It might be hard to convince people hoping to loose a few pounds or get in shape to run a few miles, but very few are willing to entertain the thought of running 26 miles and competing in a marathon. Running is both a simple and complex sport. Runners come in all shapes and sizes. I have seen 300-pound men and women at the start of a race and in contrast the chiseled muscles of the elite runners. The reasons for running are as various as the runners themselves. Some run for weight lose, mental or physical health, competition, and charity. We will write a custom essay sample on Marathon Running or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are many physical health benefits for running; â€Å"Human bodies burn about 2,000-2,500 calories a day in normal activities. Running 5 miles a day can burn an additional 500 calories. † If this same formula holds true, a person completing a marathon will have burnt close to 2,600 calories. However, how fast a person doesn’t correspond with how much weight they may loose while running. â€Å"For example, a 220-pound person running an eight-minute mile burns 150 calories, while a 120-pound person running at the same pace burns only 82. Every person’s body requires an excess of 3,500 calories in order to gain a pound or a deficit of 3,500 calories in order to lose a pound. Thus, 180-pound person who runs 5 miles each day will lose about 5 pounds a month. However, as his or her weight goes down, he or she will burn fewer calories per mile† according to a study conducted at Vanderbilt University. According to Runner’s World editor Hal Higgdon. â€Å"Running can also have many psychological benefits. Most significantly runners typically report being happier and feeling less stressed than their counterparts who do not run or exercise regularly. Running actually has the ability to alter an individuals moods because hormones called endorphins are released while running. These hormones create a sense of euphoria often referred to as a runner’s high and can result in an improvement in the runner’s mood. † With these endorphins being released into the runner’s body, running can be very addictive. A man or woman can feel like they’ve been turned into Michael Jordan and anything, even running 26 miles, is possible. Running a marathon and the distances to train are also almost spiritual. When I run I am able to solve my companies, personal, families, and the whole worlds problems. I have come up with some of the most life altering and affirming choices in the sunrise of an 8-mile run. Running is also a great stress reliever while running I am able to focus on the road and the miles as they build. I am able to forget about the office, family, or other concerns. There are 26. reasons why a marathon is hard. To put this distance in perspective if you were to drive your car at 60 mph it would take a half an hour to drive that distance. But while running the marathon there is no downtime. You’re the machine, says physical therapist Jim Wharton of New York-based Wharton Performance, which trains world-class athletes. The debate about the difficulty of the marathon, doesn t center just on the physical aspects. Motivation, confidence and mental toughness are necessary, says Stephen Russo, director of sports psychology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System. Running is painful; it’s tedious, and exhausting. After a few miles our bodies scream for us to stop and rest. When the body screams stop that is when the mind takes over and you keep running. Through my experiences in running and race competitions I can say a marathon is not something that can be described it is something must be experienced. In a marathon the participant will be competing against hundreds and in larger races thousands of other hopefuls. In many marathons time restrictions are placed on which the marathon will end. -8 hours after the marathon has began, barricades will be removed and the race rout will be dismantled. If a runner is unable to finish in the allotted time the race officials may take them to the finish line and will not allowed to finish. However during those 6-8 hours a runner can run, jog, or walk any distance they want. When Khalid Khannouchi won the London Marathon last year, he didnt do any walking: He set a world record of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 38 seconds. For elite athletes like Khannouchi distance running is a way of life. Marathoners seem either to be training or getting ready for the next workout. You wake up every morning and you know what you have to do. You have long mileage to accumulate. Sometimes youre already tired from your last two or three workouts. You still have to wake up, have the motivation and go outside and do the training. † Khannouchi said. For me running is not simply about the weight loss or the constant inquires of family, friends, and co-workers who ask, â€Å"How many mile(s) did you run today? † When I run I am only accountable to my trusty stopwatch and myself. The marathon is my Everest. I will be back. Standing there with hundreds of other runners in tank tops and short on a cold fall morning, waiting for the starter pistol. I dont run for the medal or the crowd I run for me. I run despite the 9 times out of 10 it will hurt, but I keep going. I run for that one time that it doesn’t and I am able to finish my run and look down at my stop watch and be excited about a new personal best time, if only a few seconds. I run because I know it will hurt but I keep going and I won’t give into the pain. I am an athlete. I am runner.