Racing Through Life

I remember the days when something could come up, on the fly, and I could make it happen. Maybe it was going to a movie or taking a weekend trip out of town. Nowadays, that's impossible. Everything needs to be planned and it requires weeks or even months of advanced notice so it can be written down on a calendar and concrete. There is so much going on and it feels like I am racing through life.

On the other hand, having things planned, written down and knowing (most of the time) what's coming up, energizes me. It helps me accomplish simple and complex tasks. Planning ahead and using the "written word" is absolutely essential in life. Otherwise, things get forgotten and left behind!

So, let me ask this question: Do you write down your goals or plan for your training? Chances are, you don't. A very small percentage of the population does. Why is that? We have to do this in our everyday life, so why aren't we doing it where it matters the most?

How do we know what we want to achieve? When we want to achieve it by? What the outcomes will be when/if the desired goal is achieved? Let me help a bit. Goals can be anything. They don't always have to be BHAG's (Big Harry Audacious Goals - Jim Collins / Good To Great). They can be simple and small.

How about signing up for a race? A 5K, 10K, 1 Mile, Turkey Trot (usually a 5K), a run that benefits a cause you support, etc. It can be anything. Make that your goal. Once you write something on the calendar, it becomes real. It energizes you and that will positively affect your training. Get someone else to sign up with you and you have added accountability to your training.

It is a small, but powerful and significant step to the enjoyment, and sustainability, of running. The simple fact is that we can't stay motivated all the time, no one can. Bill Rogers, one of the greatest American marathoners of all time, once said: "I find that I often lose motivation. I accept this as normal." So keep yourself motivated by having a goal in front of your training. Keep yourself accountable by "dragging" someone else into it with you.

You will see results. You will feel something you have never felt before when you cross that finish line and validate the work you put into making sure that happened. If anything, that will keep you running when you lose motivation. BTW, you should see some of the demographics around people who enter and complete races. A very high percentage has undergrad and graduate degrees. They have a higher average income. They have a much better mortality rate (obviously). I am not saying that racing in 5K's will make you more money. But it will build your confidence. It will bleed over into every other area of your life; relationships, family, work, personal character, etc.

Be at your best and let it affect those around you. Even more powerful for those who are parents, your children are your most important ministry. Find a race to run in the spring. That will get you through the winter.

Be at your very best,

Mazz

Let's Get Engaged!

Well, not literally. But humor me for a bit as I compare running and dating. Jumping into anything too soon can be disastrous. It takes time to get to know someone. Their habits, their rhythms, their idiosyncrasies. Without a proper courting you could end up hurt and in some cases, in the hospital. Now let’s talk about running!

While running IS something everyone can do, there is a proper way to do it. We must “court” our body (warm-up) before jumping into the run. Priming the joints, tendons and muscles help give you longevity. Keeping a moderate pace without moving too fast or too slow creates harmony. A kiss good night (proper debrief / stretching) allows your body and mind to decompress after the “night out”…and enough with the analogies.

The point is, anyone CAN run and we were all designed TO run. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. The difference is how much you enjoy the experience. At first, don't worry about the distance you cover. The body doesn’t understand distance. It only understands time and the amount of stress incurred in a given time; time under tension.

Run at your pace. Over a period of a few weeks you will be able to increase the amount of time you engage in running. And eventually you will be able to focus on distance rather than time. Either way, your doing something that your body will benefit from. Before long, you won’t be able to live without running. Occasional dates will not suffice and you’ll want more from your relationship with running. What kind of running and how much is totally dependent on you. No relationship is perfect and it will always have its ups and downs. Stay committed, and you WILL experience victory in your life.

On the run,

Mazz