With the London and Boston Marathons just gone, it’s easy to draw parallels between earning the Oxford Executive MBA degree and running the 26.2 mile/42.2 km course. I would know, having finished the London Marathon in 2006 as a bit of a one-hit-wonder (I’m not a runner by any stretch of the imagination).

The anticipation before Module 1 this past January was not unlike what I experienced as I made my way towards the Start at Greenwich Park. Then, as our ‘Champion Chips’ crossed the Start line in their masses, there was a cheerful if even jubilant energy as we warmed up and familiarised ourselves with the runners in our pen… in much the same way that we celebrated matriculation with a pub crawl through Oxford. And for the record, it was no small logistical achievement with our entire class of 50 students staying together over throughout!

Now having finished Modules 2 and 3, it feels similar to the 4th or 5th mile, by which time the runners were warmed up and working on establishing a sustainable pace for the long haul.

Similarly, our EMBA V class has made crucial progress; we’ve submitted one individual assessment and two group assessments; we’ve had all of our Decision Science and Developing Effective Managers lectures, and are about half way through our Marketing and Strategy lectures; our lectures are becoming ever more interactive as we get to know the class; we’re learning to adjust our professional and personal responsibilities… it should also be noted that, together with Oxford Business Alumni, a number of us watched the dark blues beat Cambridge by six boat lengths at The Boat Race in London!

So as inspiring and challenging as the first three modules have already proven to be, we nevertheless have a long road ahead of us. And just as I thought those endless miles through The Isle of Dogs would get the best of me, I can imagine that Managerial Economics and Finance will keep me well on my toes.

Having crossed the Finish line exactly two years ago on St. George’s Day, I realised that the Marathon taught me as much about myself as it did about running. When I agreed to exchange post-office drinks in a warm cozy pub for long, cold training runs around Hyde Park, I was focused on the prize - a sense of achievement and an enduring memory; indeed I never imagined my prayers would be answered so generously.

Looking ahead to September 2009, I imagine that finishing the London Marathon will pale in comparison to being awarded the MBA from Oxford. The prize will be as much about the business wisdom we nurture and develop, as it will be about ourselves, the life-long bonds and unfolding possibilities that will inevitably result.