Effort > Numbers
I really believe we as runners put entirely too much pressure on ourselves when it comes to running and performance. Data and numbers drive everything we do in this sport. Whether it’s through our fancy watches or these online training platforms, it’s hard to escape the numbers. In reality, we have entirely way too much information sometimes and it isn’t necessarily making us better.
I am not saying I am against the analytics or don’t see a value in my smart watch. I am obsessed with my Garmin and nearly freak out everytime I see it is lower than 50 percent. It wasn’t until I had my first significant injury where I was out for more than 4 months when I realized there was so much more to the sport than the numbers.
As athletes and competitors we want to be able to see our progress. Even when we realize in the worst of conditions we aren’t going to run our best, we still are upset with a down performance. I truly believe to be successful in life or running, you have to have that attitude. Feeling pissed off about not being at your best is what fuels the best of the best.
Where that mentality becomes dangerous is when we expect every workout and run to go our way. Training and racing is an imperfect long life battle. There will be ups and downs but I truly believe the more consistent you are, the more good days you have. As a solution to runners feeling the pressure of numbers, I encourage them to remember if you are training in the winter and 3 months removed from your marathon, we aren’t going to be in peak fitness.
That’s okay! That doesn’t mean you have regressed. This is where the numbers come in handy. If you are someone who is driven by the data, then, go back and look at what you did the winter or season before your last peak cycle. If your numbers are faster than then your last base building phase, then, you in fact are improving. More than anything, you are winning by simply putting in effort from week to week.
The best advice I can give anyone as we push through this next stretch of winter is to make sure you are celebrating simply being consistent. Look less at your watch and focus more on how you feel and the effort you are exerting. Remember your PRs generally come at the end of a training cycle. There is no shame in not being there today. Stop beating yourself up and remember if you want to be faster in your next goal race, you have to find a way to be positive regardless of the result. You are doing better than you think. Keep showing up!
*Spewak Training is currently taking on new athletes. If you are interested in learning more about our team and services, please contact us mark@spewaktraining.com*
