June 26, 2013
Everyone has a comfort zone. It is the area that they feel safe and at peace. For some, leaving the comfort zone is unthinkable. As long as they stay where they are nothing bad should be able to happen. However, nothing good may either. Where you are comfortable, you may also be unchallenged. Improving and growing requires someone to try new things and to actually participate. Being a distance runner requires a good deal of discomfort. Someone has to make the effort to get up early, run before it gets to dark, step out in the heat, run a little bit harder than yesterday, or add two more minutes to a run when they were ready to stop five minutes ago. Your growth is built on small steps. Where you may have only been able to barely run 15 minutes two weeks ago, now it may be easy. You have grown and may now be comfortable. It is now time to take another small step. It is now time to be uncomfortable and grow.
If you are still only running the minimum of 10 miles per week (or 75 minutes) change it. Move to 15 or 20 miles (2-3 hours) per week. By themselves, those numbers look big but done a little at a time (small steps) you will get them done.
Remember to drink lots of water. It is hot out there. Even if you are not particularly thirst, drink a half a glass anyway. Eat well. You need fuel to run. If you are hungry or dehydrated you may not feel very good on a run. Run when it is coolest, if possible, and stretch after each run for 10 minutes or so. And don't forget to embrace the uncomfortable. A little discomfort now will lead to a lot of success later.
Everyone has a comfort zone. It is the area that they feel safe and at peace. For some, leaving the comfort zone is unthinkable. As long as they stay where they are nothing bad should be able to happen. However, nothing good may either. Where you are comfortable, you may also be unchallenged. Improving and growing requires someone to try new things and to actually participate. Being a distance runner requires a good deal of discomfort. Someone has to make the effort to get up early, run before it gets to dark, step out in the heat, run a little bit harder than yesterday, or add two more minutes to a run when they were ready to stop five minutes ago. Your growth is built on small steps. Where you may have only been able to barely run 15 minutes two weeks ago, now it may be easy. You have grown and may now be comfortable. It is now time to take another small step. It is now time to be uncomfortable and grow.
If you are still only running the minimum of 10 miles per week (or 75 minutes) change it. Move to 15 or 20 miles (2-3 hours) per week. By themselves, those numbers look big but done a little at a time (small steps) you will get them done.
Remember to drink lots of water. It is hot out there. Even if you are not particularly thirst, drink a half a glass anyway. Eat well. You need fuel to run. If you are hungry or dehydrated you may not feel very good on a run. Run when it is coolest, if possible, and stretch after each run for 10 minutes or so. And don't forget to embrace the uncomfortable. A little discomfort now will lead to a lot of success later.