It’s the time of year when we’re overbooked and underthanked and feeling pretty stressed by the end of each day. We fill the hours with obligations and shove our “passions” somewhere in the back because we’re stuck on that big wheel of staying “busy.” The “busy bee” spills over into running – into training. I’ve seen it happen to so many people and I feel it when it happens to me. Competition is the spark that fuels the fire for most folks. It’s the motivation to get out and train and suffer to accomplish a goal. It’s a high, great enough to push you past your pre-conceived limits, but it’s also enough to bring you down to your knees. What happens when you don’t find what you’re searching for? What happens if your body says it can’t get you there, no matter how hard you try? All that work…all those goals…it just wasn’t enough...if your heart wasn’t in the right place from the start.
We’ve got to get our head and heart in tune when it comes to training. I’m talking to myself, just as much as I’m talking to you. I’ve climbed a few physical “hurdles” over the past several years and I feel like I’ve been playing a big game of “beat the clock” rather than racing a few of my favorite routes. I’ve taken a beating and right now, my body is telling my brain – “take it easy for a bit until you fall back in love with the sport that basically saved your life.” I’m listening. It’s tough, but I’m taking my own advice. But that’s just it. This – the struggle of training. The highs and the lows. This is what brings us back, hungry for more. It’s a process and it’s a perfect metaphor for what it means to really live and love. We evolve and our needs and wants will naturally change over time. My goals are the same but I’m taking a different approach, one filled with less pressure, more purpose and A LOT more happiness along the way. So with that said, as we head towards the end of the year, I urge you to ask yourself “why” you’re running, racing, or training. The saying is, “you’ll never regret a run,” but to that I say, “you might regret your reasons.” If you’ve lost the passion and it’s become a chore, it’s time to get back to the basics before it’s too late. Race for the love of running and the opportunity to just be free. A day on the run from the daily grind. I’m already there. Who’s coming with me?