Running After Your Goals

Today I doubled my distance and guess what, I feel great! It’s a bit of a lesson on goalsetting.

Back in the summer, when I started running regularly, twice around my local park was an achievement. Yay; I would feel so tired but happy.

Then it grew to three times around.

Now the park’s too small of a goal so I changed my route and began running to a distant park. There and back was an accomplishment, I was pooped but proud.

Last night I got the notion that I would run to the park, and beyond, for a total distance of about 9km. Could I do it?

Today I did. I ran about 6km of the route and walked the rest.

I feel great—proud of myself and physically fit.

It's interesting what adjusting your goal can do for your level of achievement. Because I feel so good it increases the likelihood of continued efforts and successes. But had I started my running career back in July with this route, I would have failed and felt bad. I would have proved to myself that I’m not a runner.

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.

The Challenge of Running

A challenge of running is being alone with your thoughts. No distractibility. A lot of runners wear headphones, but I choose not to. I like the meditative quality of running in silence.

I began to notice that while running, most of my thoughts were negative. They were of pain and weakness. I think this is in part what the headphones guard against: that droning negative voice.  

But when I stopped listening to my brain and began asking my body how I felt , the answer was usually “doing ok.” My body’s happy to be pushed, to work out kinks and to rejoice in its abilities.

It’s a gorgeous day, the sun is warm on my face and my clothing’s just right and comfortable. My lungs feel refreshed, both mind and body feel clear. Sometimes the struggle’s all in the mind.