Recently I was driving to an early morning group session when I noticed that summer was slowly disappearing and what was daylight at the very same time only a few weeks ago was now pitch dark. It made me aware of the challenges that early morning runners face as the days grow shorter.
Mottram would be treated the same
I have a thriving running group in Brisbane (PCRG) and I believe one of the main reasons it is so successful is that every runner is treated equal. I always make a point of cheering as many runners as possible throughout the group sessions. If Craig Mottram joined us he would be welcomed as an additional member of the group, nothing more.
The majority of runners I’m involved with have goals which they wish to achieve so it’s therefore my responsibility to make each runner aware of what is required to achieve their full potential. Given the fact I treat each with equal respect all I ask for in return is commitment.
PCRG members are respected by how much an individual is prepared to reach within, not by how long it takes to get from A – B.
Every run is an opportunity
The combination of a realistic/achievable training program and a genuine desire to achieve a goal should bring a level of commitment allowing every scheduled run to be completed. Every training run should be treated as an opportunity to become fitter/stronger and also a way to achieve a better quality of life. The dark cold mornings can test us though.
Commitment – Motivation – Commitment
One of the most common obstacles effecting commitment that runners seem to come across is an occasional lack of motivation.
I recall a story about Douglas Wakiihuri (87 World Marathon Champion). Douglas had a poster of himself winning a race, hanging on a wall in his bedroom. One may be excused for thinking that this is the obvious sign of a vane individual however when asked why he had a poster of himself displayed, Douglas advised that when he sees it he is reminded of what it is like to win.
Yes, even the most supreme runners occasionally need to be reminded why they should knock out those km’s.
Locking in an imaginary training partner is something I have often mentioned and the following words came from Tony when he was confronted with weighing up the options:
“When I woke up this morning there were few things I wanted to do less than get out of bed and go through an hour of pain. I had actually convinced myself that I had a busy day at work and that I was sore from the weekend and could do with the rest and rolled over to go back to sleep. All of this was probably true, but somewhere deep in the back of my head though I couldn’t get the mental image of a friend putting on a pair of shoes and getting ready for the run. This was what made me drag my butt out of bed (albeit late) and get myself to training which ended up in an unlikely PB.”
Chances are you’re at the start of your campaign and it’s totally up to you to lock in the level of commitment you’re going to adopt.
Prepare for the journey ahead
Douglas and Tony prepared well for the journey ahead with motivating reasons to overcome their weak side. I hope that you do the same, as life is something you only get one shot at and a degree of commitment is essential if you wish to achieve your goal in distance running.
RUN the talk, because the desire to achieve your goal is meaningless without the commitment to prepare.