Reminding myself what ‘Running Success Means to Me’, helps Keep me Safe From Injury during the Marathon.

Having a Goal Distance and Goal Time;   keep my training calibrated for these goals. Goals also keep me motivated to improve gradually.

While having these running goals are important for the process, They are NOT the metrics of Running Success for Me. “Push yourself to reach your goals,” must be done With Caution. It is not worth getting a Personal Best if that means getting an Injury Too. Think ‘Big Picture,’ I want to be able to run later this week, to keep my routine strong, to keep the habit relevant in my life. To continue from where I am, Instead of potentially taking a major step back. 

Stress Injuries Caused by the ‘Push Yourself’ Mentality, can last months or years. So it is No Joke. While many consider the ‘Pushing’ to be the successful strategy, it is critical not to push beyond what the body is ready for Today. On race day I must listen to my body, just like I do on training days. I must keep myself safe from injury, just like I do on training days.

Success on Race day Is;

Trying to go the Full Distance

Trying to go for the Time I Think I can get

Backing off of these goals if I need to, to keep myself safe. Only I can judge the limits of my body today.

Remembering that I am Not Obligated to reach a certain distance or time because; I thought I could, or told someone I could, or because I paid the race fees and want to get what I paid for.

Not changing speed because of my judgments of those around me. “They look like they should be slower than me, so I’ll go faster.” That is not the logic of success. That is not the Positive Thinking Needed to Move Forward.

Success for me on Race Day is not much different than success for me on any other day. The only difference is that I don’t try to save any energy for the coming days. I leave it all on the road, knowing that I will take 2 or 3 days of walks instead of runs.

Ultimately;   Running the Marathon should be Healthy for my Body, Not Detrimental to it. Run in a way that Honors this Virtuous Process. Running Success for Me is; Doing what’s Right for my Body and Soul Today, race day or not. This is the success that makes me Proud.