Luis Velasquez on how running made him realize how strong he was.
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Invariably I get asked, “What are you training for now?”
My response varies depending on the season and most importantly if I have a race on my calendar coming up. However, for the most part I train for no particular reason other than the fact that I love to keep fit and push my body to the limit. I have, in addition, developed a passion for helping others to attain their athletic goals, weather these are a 5K, an ultra marathon, an Ironman Triathlon and everything in between. I have helped friends to go from not being able to run 2 miles straight to do a 50 mile ultra-marathon or doing an Ironman Triathlon. Even though running and training is a big part of the equation, mental training is even bigger. Whether you are training for a run, starting your own business or perhaps looking for a promotion or making an acquisition, these principles always seem to hold true.
Beware of the Downers.
You attract critics whenever you are about to do something different or extraordinary like running a marathon or going after that promotion, or making an acquisition:
- “Oh, you’ll ruin your knees.”
- “You’re not athletic.”
- “You should try something a little easier.”
- “That hire is not wise”
- “You haven’t acquired a company before”
Soon, I realized that even though they were discouraging at first, they also have a little secret. Downers aren’t telling you what you can’t do; they’re telling you what they can’t do. Every person who told me that running was a bad idea was a person who would never attempt something so grand. So shake off the haters. Their criticism should be empowering to achieve your goals. Check this article in how to combat the office downer?
You don’t have to do it alone.
As a kid I always ran away from group activities, I always thought to myself that I wasn’t good enough soccer player, etc. But when it came to solo sports, I had a “I can do better” attitude. After growing up, I realized hat any goal that is bigger than you will require help. The best runs I had, the best runs you will have are with a team. Their encouragement will turn any run into a walk in the park if the group is supportive. Never underestimate your support system, so find a mentor, a coach, a training buddy and hit the trails. The best leaders see success as a group endeavor; they call out the best in their folks, so that the entire team or enterprise can take part in creating success. They carve the path together
Never, Ever Give up.
Running is hard. Running long distances is even harder. I remember a few times being on mile 75 of a 100 mile race and thinking there is no way in the world I will be able to finish this. I also can remember so many days during my training when I would simply not have it in me. But what I found interesting about pushing my limits is that I realized how far out my limits really were. I am so much stronger than I thought I was. I have more endurance that I could have guessed. And when I feel like I have nothing left, there is always a little more strength and a little more energy. Interestingly whenever I feel like quitting in a 100 mile race I make my goal just to make it to the next aid station, to the next mile marker. Once I get there, my minigoal changes to the next aid station, and so on, It makes quitting harder, because when you know you can make it to the next aid station, it refuels you desire to go further, and you will. “Never ever give up” is the mantra Diana Nyad had after she completed her historic swim from Cuba to Florida.
You are stronger than you think.
It probably sounds cliché, but the day these words sink into your heart, you will never ever be the same. We tend to limit ourselves by the common “I can’t, I won’t, I shouldn’t. We limit ourselves with our routines that are inflexible and inefficient. But most importantly we limit ourselves in our heads, our minds are the most important tool we have to make it to the finish line. Over the years, one thing I have learned about me and everybody else is that we underestimate ourselves. We are stronger than we we think we are and running is a sport where this is far more evident. Resilience is a trait we all have, running will bring it out rather quickly.
Pacing and nutrition are the secret to reach the finish line.
There is this race in Arizona, The Javalina 100, this race has defeated me twice, but I know exactly what happened. I started too fast and when the night came, as the temperature dropped, and I was running by myself, when things got tough, I suffered. I limped to mile 75 and decided to quit, both times. Looking back, the first miles were easy, they were runnable, and I knew I was running a bit faster than what I should have. Interestingly, going too fast, premature scaling, is the #1 killer of new business. Nutrition is the other component that if not taken care of will kill your race, any race. Most of what we eat will be broken down to one thing: Glucose. If we don’t eat right, we will end up unfocused and easy to distract. I had gotten lost a couple of times because my nutrition was out of whack. It’s like putting the foot down on the gas pedal until you’ve used all your fuel, and then everything comes to a screeching halt.
In the spirit of runners everywhere, I hope you know that you have no idea what you’re capable of. You are brave and strong. So, get active on the journey of your life. It has trails and dreams that you never imagined.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Luis Great article, especially that last part about speed. I kinda knew that, but it really came home to me when i started to run in Florida, with the heat and humidity it really multiplied the impact, and the only way to finish races was disciplined running setting a pace and stacking to it. We don’t realise when things are going well that we are just charging towards a brickwall one that will end with us quitting, Having lived and run mostly in colder weather its been tough to make the change, but the benefits are clear. Right pace right… Read more »