Foolproof Your Running

The first step is to take an assessment of your goals. Be really honest with yourself.  Have you set clear, concise goals? You have to have a plan for how to get from where you are now to where you want to be or you'll never get there.  Do you truly believe that with focused effort you can accomplish your goals? If you don't, you won't.  It's that simple.

Walter Anderson, editor of Parade magazine was quoted as saying, "Our lives only improve when we take chances, and the most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves." Are these really your goals, ones that you are passionate about?  Or are they simply expectations that someone else has imposed on you?  It is foolish to try to live out someone else's dream for your life?

Are you the one holding yourself back from reaching your full potential?  Have you used the same excuses (not enough time, schedule conflicts, too old) for so long that even you finally believe them?  Successful athletes take action, regardless of how challenging it may be.  If there's an obstacle in their path, they find a way to push through. Don't fool yourself into believing that you'll get around to pursuing those goals tomorrow.  Procrastination is fear-based.

Fear of failure. Take the first step today.  Only a fool spends his days idly and aimlessly. 

What about proper training?   Are you pushing yourself on the days scheduled for speed-play?  Have you stayed on pace during those long, endurance runs?   Don't be foolish enough to think that you can set a personal best time in the next race if you haven't done the preparation.  And what about rest days?  Have you convinced yourself that you can get by without sufficient recovery time?

Another truth is that less is more.   Quality workouts are more important than quantity. Yet, more often than not, runners think that the trick to getting faster is to load up on weekly mileage. 

Are you accurately and honestly recording your perceived efforts in your running log journal?  Do you carefully review your entries for clues to what you should change in order to improve your times?  Ask yourself what's working and what's not. Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Don't ignore signs of impending injury or illness. These are warnings built in to save us from disaster.  Often runners fool themselves into believing they can just run through it.  They convince themselves that the "slight twinge" in their knees will loosen up on the next long run or that with a little ice and Advil, the shin splint pain will subside.  Don't allow yourself to remain in denial.  The sooner you acknowledge the situation, the sooner you can resolve the problem.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can or have accomplished anything all on your own.   It's healthy to ask for help now and then, and important to thank those who come to our aid.  Consult with a physical therapist before your injury becomes worse.  Ask a friend to baby-sit once in a while so you can get in that long run.  Hire a coach to design a personalized training schedule to keep you on track.  Don't forget to thank your family and friends for their support, especially those who have believed in you and encouraged you along the way. 

Thank the race volunteers.  Do you really think they just enjoy standing in a cold rain all morning to hand out water or ward off traffic?   Don't kid yourself that the race directors have all the help they need.  Volunteer now and then to get a full appreciation of what it takes to put on a safe and well-organized event. Do you know how much an encouraging word means to you?  Don't be foolish enough to think that it would mean any less to a training partner or a competitor. 

If a fellow athlete falls, don't assume that they are fine or simply yell to him as you speed by.  Stop and check on them. You are foolish if you believe that the age-group award will mean more in the end than lending a helping hand to someone in need.

How many times have we believed that we ate nutritiously throughout the day?  For a reality check, keep track of everything that goes in your mouth for a few weeks.  You might be surprised by what you discover.

Never underestimate the power of the mind.  Are you listening to positive or negative dialogue when you race?   You alone determine whether you will realize failure or success.  Strong athletes don't just have strong hearts - they have strong minds. They exercise patience and good judgment when assessing the course, the competition, and most importantly - themselves.
 
Cheryl Hart is an owner of 2nd Wind, a motivational coaching business with a focus on the mental aspects of training and life goals.  She is also a certified personal fitness specialist and spinning instructor.  Cheryl was Kentucky 's NCAA Woman of the Year (1993) and National Inspirational Athlete of the Year (1994). She is a member of Team USA , most recently winning silver medals in both the 2004 World Triathlon and World
Duathlon.  She was named All-American in triathlon and duathlon (2003 & 2004).  Cheryl has a B.A. in English from Centre College, where she served as communications associate, cross-country coach and sports information director. To contact Cheryl, call 693-7443 or e-mail offrunnin@yahoo.com.