Thoughts on the Run

Everyone gets stuck in a rut at some point. Whether this is running, business, or personal, you may find yourself hitting a wall. Something is standing in your way of getting to where you want to be and it can be frustrating to the point of being paralyzed. This wall may be temporary or permanent … until you do take action.

Step 1 is acknowledging the wall as well as not knowing how the wall was built. What caused the wall to go up?

When running a marathon, or even a half, the wall comes due to nutrition. It’s not a mystical creature that others have not seen, but very real. When running your heart rate high, your body is tapping into a limited source of fuel. Once that fuel runs out, the wall appears. There are different strategies for everyone to get around the wall … more long runs, eating more, compression apparel, singing songs. It really is different from everyone and while it is physically triggered, you can certainly use mental trickery to blow through the wall.

In the world of business, the wall can be hitting the top of the ladder at a company, frustrated with lack of opportunities, or a clouded view of the situation. I’m always asked how I have time to do everything that I do. The way I do it is by seeing the walls coming at me on the path I’m walking. Whether it be noticing company layoffs looming, how far away the end of the current path is, or seeing the big picture, I’m always aware of my adventure.

Life is like going to Disney World … you have a limited amount of time to get in as many rides as you can.

Step 2 is deciding what you are going to do about the wall. This is where a change of scenery can really benefit you. Take a morning and go to a coffee shop to reflect and observe. Not just on what you are doing, but take in what’s happening around you. Signs are often presented to us, but we are too busy looking inward to see what is on the table right in front of us.

Write down what you would do if that wall did not exist. No really, get out one of those things you hold in your hand and write on that stuff made from trees. Suddenly it becomes quote a bit more real. Don’t think about it, just do it. As soon as you start thinking, you’re letting the wall get in the way.

For running, I hit quite a few walls. It seems as though once I find a way around a wall, another one appears. From there, it’s like the Borg in Star Trek (did I just announce my geekiness?) where the same solution doesn’t work twice. My brain adapts, says “nice one,” and then remembers to not have that work again. I can either get frustrated, keep coming up with solutions, or find a way to coexist.

You’ve probably heard that runners talk to themselves. Well, the wall is a big reason for that. Constantly trying to find a way for the body and mind to work together and achieve new adventures. It’s a discussion that involves give-and-take.

“Just make it to that tree on the corner and then we’ll stop running.”
“Great! Made it to the tree! Now let’s run to that hill!”

Ongoing compromising with oneself can lead to incredible self-realizations of what you can do.

I haven’t run in over a week and it frustrates me to no end. Normally this is due to my schedule and family commitments, but this time it’s from being sick. Yes, I do run sick. When I’m sick to the point that it feels as though someone is sitting on my chest, I tend to take that as a sign rest is needed. Looking at the positive, I’m coughing so hard that my core is getting an excellent workout! Reflecting back over the past 10 days, I’ve identified this wall … I ran two 5.5 mile runs in one day and did not get enough sleep or food to suport it. Now I can’t wait to do a double run again and put my list of solutions to the test!

After you complete Step 2, repeat.

Just be aware of the wall and how you react to it. You know that you’ll hit many of them in life, and knowing that, will allow you to deal with them more efficiently.