Lessons I’ve Learned From Running
Seemingly out of nowhere, after one too many beers with friends on July 4th, I woke up on July 5th and signed up for the Richmond Half Marathon (I know, just the half). Since then, much like crossfitters and vegans – running has basically become my entire personality. Enough so, that I’m coming out of blog writing hibernation just to make sure more people know I’m now a runner. Not really, I mean, kind of – actually, while I was running the other day, I was thinking about what I have learned about myself and the training process and how it could be applied to the larger aspects of my life and the work we do here at TSM.
About 10-12 years ago I ran a slew of 5k races sometimes by myself and sometimes with my dad. Since then, my running had been sporadic to non-existent. Running a half marathon was something I had interest in, and last year, on my 44th birthday, I decided I was going to do it. Clearly, I did not. I never really ran at all, actually. Despite my insistence that I absolutely did NOT want to run with a team, I conceded that I needed accountability and support if I was going to be successful. So, when I signed up for the half, I also signed up for the training team. As it turns out, the training team requires you be able to run 3 miles by the middle of the August when it starts, so on July 6th I set out for my first run. No big deal, I used to run 3 miles all of the time…Folks, I couldn’t finish 1 mile, and I immediately questioned what in the world I had done. Thirteen miles felt incredibly daunting, and to be honest, I was a little embarrassed. But, I kept getting up and getting at it – I made a commitment and I was going to see it through. The next day I finished a mile, within a week I was running 2 miles, two weeks later 3.
This past Sunday, exactly 7 weeks from the first time I laced up my shoes and hit the pavement, I completed a 5-mile training team run. It felt great! I felt great. But then, sitting in my car about to drive home, I suddenly began to…cry. I thought about the day I couldn’t finish the mile. I thought about all of the early mornings and the lifestyle shifts. I thought about my 17-year-old telling me they were impressed by my commitment and the work I was putting in. Turns out, I was crying because I was proud of myself. I was crying, because I knew in that moment, that I could actually do it.
From now until November 15th, every long run I do will be the furthest I’ve ever run in my life. I expect there will be some more tears along the way – from pain, frustration, and hopefully joy. Even though I still have many miles to go, I feel confident about the journey ahead because I have the right systems in place to help me get there.
Lessons I’ve learned from running:
Building the Base - During those 7 weeks, I logged over 60 miles. One, two, and three miles at a time, 4 days a week. Change doesn’t happen overnight; you have to show up, focus on the fundamentals, pay attention to the small things, and go slower to go faster. Without a solid foundation, moving too fast will cause cracks and could make it all fall apart.
Working as a team - This was huge for me. Running is a solo sport, right? It’s part of why I like it. Just me and my thoughts and that fresh Virginia humidity. I was wrong. I needed the accountability and encouragement that comes from having others around you with a shared goal working together to make sure everyone is successful in the end.
Trusting the process – The training team has a plan. It tells you what you need to do to achieve your goal. The plan includes tools to help you understand that what you get out is directly correlated to what you put in. If you follow the plan, utilize the tools, and put in the work, you will be successful.
Resting – Rest days are built into the plan. They are essential. It’s a time to focus on building those other muscles that will support you in your work and to allow you to recover, reenergize, and refocus on the larger goal. Without them, you will experience fatigue and risk not being able to complete the thing you’ve been working so hard for.
Whether you are training for November or trying to get an organization or company across some other type of finish line. I hope there is something useful you can glean from my early morning musings.