Running Targets

Ran track today. Met this week's goal to run an extra lap. Was joined by a friend who has not run track since school. I gently and succinctly tried to clarify how I run and how I started. But ift fell on deaf ears, so let me explain....

My start in running was a bit pathetic in terms of distance and time. For the first week, I walked four 'laps' of the treadmill (1 mile or 1500 metres). I needed to start slow. Had I failed at my initial targets, I would have felt a failure. I couldn't set myself up like that.

The next week, I added a 'lap'. The week after, I ran one of the five 'laps'. The following week, I added another 'lap'. The week after, I ran two of the six laps. And on I went like this. Each week I either added a lap, or ran an additional lap. I had 20-30 minutes window each day between finishing work and picking up the children from school. I had to be efficient with my time. And I had to succeed.

I never strayed from this schedule. I never succumbed to the temptation to run extra (or less) laps. I met my target each day: no more, no less. In this way, I tried to establish running as a simple part of my daily routine. 

This approach would not have worked for me aged 25. I would have had to have continually challenged myself. Running extra laps, running faster, running with a hangover, whilst smoking... But aged 40, I know more about my psyche. I understand the importance of 'keeping going'. With two young children, my ego requires self-massage. I need to impress myself. And that is what I am doing.

I felt for my friend today, who set out to run an unrealistic target at an unrealistic speed. I hope I can counsel her to re-assess rather than give up.