These 5 words are written on every water bottle during races of one of my favorite all-time athletes; Chrissie Wellington. For those of you who don't know who she is; Chrissie is a 4x World Champ in Ironman and was 14-0 throughout her storied career. When she broke the world record; Chrissie ran a 2:42 marathon AFTER swimming 3.8k and biking 112 miles. CW has this amazing ability to always look like she was having fun even though was dealing with the same pain we all deal with in races.
I started working with two new athletes this month; both of them are training for the Chicago Marathon. One of them I met for coffee and after about 5 min of talking, I asked "What do you want to get out of this marathon?" It took her about 10 seconds to answer and when I got a response, she was looking down the entire time, had a nervous tick in her leg and never made eye contact. It was like she was anticipating some terrible news. There was no joy in her voice; almost like she was being forced to undergo this "task". The other athlete has been racing for a long time and over the past few years, has lost that sense of enjoyment; running has become a job to her. She has had this mentality that you can either 'do races for fun' or be super serious 24/7; no middle ground. I'm very excited to help both of these athletes find joy in the process of training; one of them for the first time and the other I hope to have her remember why she started running many years ago. I think many of us get so consumed with the end result that we forget about enjoying the road.
One of my best memories as a coach was in the 2015 North Shore Half Marathon. We had a few athletes running, one of which I just started coaching that winter; Kevin Havel. I got to know Kevin quickly and the more he enjoyed running, the better he would perform (strange I know). Prior to the race I could tell he was nervous; so the plan was for him to see me at mile 1 and 5 and at each point he was to give me a wave and smile. Sure enough saw Kevin and at both points got my wave and smile. Havel looked like a kid at Christmas (while running 5 minute pace). It wasn't about the action; it was about him enjoying the moment. Kevin ended up winning the race in a personal best time of 1:05, broke the course record and later went on to qualify for the 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials (something that was not a goal of his because it just was not realistic coming into 2015).
Many runners feel if they run a certain time THEN they will be happy; it doesn't work like that. This journey is the best thing endurance sport has to offer; enjoy it, embrace it. Remember to smile when your body wants to scream. Tomorrow is promised to no one; so enjoy today. We always want our athletes focused on the process NOT the outcome. In the words of Chrissie herself; "Whether it takes 3 months or 3 years you will get there when the will out lifts the skill."
Social media can be a great thing; but also in the endurance world often portrays only what athletes want you to see; the good times. Every run will not be sunshine and rainbows, many sessions you do will hurt like hell; know that going in and own it. All you can control is your attitude and effort. We just don't recognize life's most significant moments while they're happening. Many think 'there will be other days". Smile and enjoy this sport today; it's a great one.
"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the earth and everything that’s in it." -Rudyard Kipling