Thank you Terrell. This is really good and I always appreciate your transparency. I also like the long quote about encouraging others. We are often so quick to judge ourselves (and sometimes others) for little mistakes when we do so much that is right.
So this reminder is very good. My recently 59 yr old body is doing better with this as long as I do not push too hard. I am on Day 95 of my streak. I commented in Dec (I think) that I might try a streak for all of ‘23 since my internal motivation almost requires it.
As I have gotten older I am a little more OCD and my brain responds best to repetition like this. I developed runner’s knee of 3/19 doing my first half of the season. And as I push through it, I feel my knee slowly improving - with ice and stretching and 1 mile, slow, runs.
So keep up the great writing you do to encourage us all and keep up your efforts at running on a regular basis. We have plenty of years left to run as exhibited by our local centenarian runner in my city. But most of all, go easy on yourself. If your brain won’t let you accept that your efforts are good, have your heart and the good feeling you get from doing it all, do the convincing. And if that is not enough, listen to your readers and how much we are encouraged by you.
I had the Berlin Half Marathon last weekend & now only 12 days until the Boston Marathon! My only goal now is to stay healthy & injury free. A few more gentle runs & a quick run on Saturday morning, but I am really just so unbelievably excited for Boston.
All the early mornings, tired evenings mid-day lunch break runs have built towards this. I constantly get asked what's my goal? What time will I be happy with? Honestly, I don't care. I'm just looking forward to holding that medal in my hands & the experience of the day. Jets flying overhead. US national anthem booming.
It's those thoughts that got me through training & I'm going to try make sure I enjoy every second of it.
Whatever happened to fun and spontaneity ? My daughter (she is a game developer) and I were talking the other night. She pointed out that it seems like everything is a second job. She works on back end video games all day. At night when she is off, it is no longer to "play" a game. One has to see how much loot they have taken in, how far they have advanced in kills, monetization. . . blah, blah, blah. . . it could go on and on. Just checking in on the game is like having a second job to keep it straight. Hasn't running and life gotten to be the same? One cannot spontaneously go out for a run. There has to be a schedule, and a coach, fees to pay for a certain race and travel. . . it, too, can go on and on.
On chat the other day, we were marveling at a person who just went out from couch to a marathon with a smile and a partner. I really loved that once I read the article over. Why not? One does not have to have the regimen of running everyday. One does not have to have a coach or a certain distance. That in itself makes it a chore and something you don't really want to do.
Sure, there is the reward of completing in a race and at the end, a heavy "medal",and memories to stroke your ego, but that's all.
I remember the reason I got into running was not for health. It was just plain fun to run. Then I got a method, found out about races and found out I had to train for a certain time 5 days a week--and, oh, yeh, it would be good to have a "coach" to tell me what I was doing wrong. Somewhere down the line, it dwindled until I no longer have that pull to race or run every darn day! Too much of a good thing,, who knows?
I could kick myself in the butt and say I am a slacker or too old, but you know, I'm going to go back and have fun, go out for a run if I feel like it and for as long as I want!
Feelings are everywhere. . . I'm sure there are people who disagree with me. In the meantime, they can see if they are having fun or merely running as a second job! Fun, a smile and a partner go a long way!:)
Another day of rain and wind. Nothing good coming up until at least next week when we may get into the 70s. Who knows. . . weather is weather we have no control over it, but Spring is here. I can feel it in my bones!:)
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I am myself getting back to running after a few weeks off. And my mind is so fast to think - I need to run faster, I need to run more, I need to run in the mornings. If I don't do these, my mind goes into thinking I've failed. It's hard to think of small and slow progress as a good thing. I pay most attention to the end goal. But the progress and the little steps are the ones to get me to that end goal. So thanks. I'm rewarding my progress and reminding myself I'm doing this for myself. And after those runs, the ones I reward small progress, the feeling of relief and content is something no one can take away. Happy. Thanks.
Yes!! I know. Just this past weekend, I was running and feeling like taking it up a notch, but when I did, my right ankle twinged with a quick, sharp pain — I think it was a little reminder not to push too fast, too quickly, as if to say, “reel it in there, boss.” 😃
Thanks for asking Terrell. Surrounded by family this holiday weekend. Children and grandchildren. For me, It doesn’t get any better than this. Happy holidays to you and your loved one’s…
Andrew, with that terrific attitude, you will enjoy every second of it...Wow, I applaud you for all your planning, effort, sacrifice. Take it ALL in Andrew...🙌
Hey Terrell! Great post. I don't get the Daily Dad, but I'm a long-time subscriber of the Daily Stoic. Keep up the excellent work. Onward, ever! Backward, never!
Thank you for sharing this article Terrell. I like the phrase “Builder”. Similar thoughts of “every step counts’ while training, whether alone or with a group. The marathon/half marathon is such a metaphor of life. A running partner of mine shared with me words that I have carried with me every season. You can’t fake a marathon. Just because you found the website and location and paid your entry fee, doesn’t mean you show up and run. A mental mistake I made many times “learning” how to run. Great article thank you Terrell.
Great motivation for work, too. When the the work gets seemingly impossible, I try to remember past days when “the impossible took a little longer” (yeah, saw it on a meme but it works here), and somehow I am able to arrive at a solution to a problem, or develop some missing laser step in a plan.
Thank you Terrell. This is really good and I always appreciate your transparency. I also like the long quote about encouraging others. We are often so quick to judge ourselves (and sometimes others) for little mistakes when we do so much that is right.
So this reminder is very good. My recently 59 yr old body is doing better with this as long as I do not push too hard. I am on Day 95 of my streak. I commented in Dec (I think) that I might try a streak for all of ‘23 since my internal motivation almost requires it.
As I have gotten older I am a little more OCD and my brain responds best to repetition like this. I developed runner’s knee of 3/19 doing my first half of the season. And as I push through it, I feel my knee slowly improving - with ice and stretching and 1 mile, slow, runs.
So keep up the great writing you do to encourage us all and keep up your efforts at running on a regular basis. We have plenty of years left to run as exhibited by our local centenarian runner in my city. But most of all, go easy on yourself. If your brain won’t let you accept that your efforts are good, have your heart and the good feeling you get from doing it all, do the convincing. And if that is not enough, listen to your readers and how much we are encouraged by you.
I had the Berlin Half Marathon last weekend & now only 12 days until the Boston Marathon! My only goal now is to stay healthy & injury free. A few more gentle runs & a quick run on Saturday morning, but I am really just so unbelievably excited for Boston.
All the early mornings, tired evenings mid-day lunch break runs have built towards this. I constantly get asked what's my goal? What time will I be happy with? Honestly, I don't care. I'm just looking forward to holding that medal in my hands & the experience of the day. Jets flying overhead. US national anthem booming.
It's those thoughts that got me through training & I'm going to try make sure I enjoy every second of it.
Good luck and enjoy!
Whatever happened to fun and spontaneity ? My daughter (she is a game developer) and I were talking the other night. She pointed out that it seems like everything is a second job. She works on back end video games all day. At night when she is off, it is no longer to "play" a game. One has to see how much loot they have taken in, how far they have advanced in kills, monetization. . . blah, blah, blah. . . it could go on and on. Just checking in on the game is like having a second job to keep it straight. Hasn't running and life gotten to be the same? One cannot spontaneously go out for a run. There has to be a schedule, and a coach, fees to pay for a certain race and travel. . . it, too, can go on and on.
On chat the other day, we were marveling at a person who just went out from couch to a marathon with a smile and a partner. I really loved that once I read the article over. Why not? One does not have to have the regimen of running everyday. One does not have to have a coach or a certain distance. That in itself makes it a chore and something you don't really want to do.
Sure, there is the reward of completing in a race and at the end, a heavy "medal",and memories to stroke your ego, but that's all.
I remember the reason I got into running was not for health. It was just plain fun to run. Then I got a method, found out about races and found out I had to train for a certain time 5 days a week--and, oh, yeh, it would be good to have a "coach" to tell me what I was doing wrong. Somewhere down the line, it dwindled until I no longer have that pull to race or run every darn day! Too much of a good thing,, who knows?
I could kick myself in the butt and say I am a slacker or too old, but you know, I'm going to go back and have fun, go out for a run if I feel like it and for as long as I want!
Feelings are everywhere. . . I'm sure there are people who disagree with me. In the meantime, they can see if they are having fun or merely running as a second job! Fun, a smile and a partner go a long way!:)
Another day of rain and wind. Nothing good coming up until at least next week when we may get into the 70s. Who knows. . . weather is weather we have no control over it, but Spring is here. I can feel it in my bones!:)
Terrell, when you remember the phrase “feelings are everywhere “, it is easier to remember to be a builder. Yes?
I do! I love that phrase, Clark. So much. I’m trying to keep it in my mind, always. How are you, my friend?
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I am myself getting back to running after a few weeks off. And my mind is so fast to think - I need to run faster, I need to run more, I need to run in the mornings. If I don't do these, my mind goes into thinking I've failed. It's hard to think of small and slow progress as a good thing. I pay most attention to the end goal. But the progress and the little steps are the ones to get me to that end goal. So thanks. I'm rewarding my progress and reminding myself I'm doing this for myself. And after those runs, the ones I reward small progress, the feeling of relief and content is something no one can take away. Happy. Thanks.
Thanks for the encouragement! I wonder why our ankles talk back so much as we age. I have the same issue.
Yes!! I know. Just this past weekend, I was running and feeling like taking it up a notch, but when I did, my right ankle twinged with a quick, sharp pain — I think it was a little reminder not to push too fast, too quickly, as if to say, “reel it in there, boss.” 😃
Listen to your body. It knows best.!
“Tread softly, feelings are everywhere”!
Thank you for sharing, Terrell.
Thanks for asking Terrell. Surrounded by family this holiday weekend. Children and grandchildren. For me, It doesn’t get any better than this. Happy holidays to you and your loved one’s…
Have you ever read The Rose Code by Kate Quinn? Reminds me of you mother! :) J
Happy holidays! Don't you just love Spring? :)
Andrew, with that terrific attitude, you will enjoy every second of it...Wow, I applaud you for all your planning, effort, sacrifice. Take it ALL in Andrew...🙌
Hey Terrell! Great post. I don't get the Daily Dad, but I'm a long-time subscriber of the Daily Stoic. Keep up the excellent work. Onward, ever! Backward, never!
Thank you for sharing this article Terrell. I like the phrase “Builder”. Similar thoughts of “every step counts’ while training, whether alone or with a group. The marathon/half marathon is such a metaphor of life. A running partner of mine shared with me words that I have carried with me every season. You can’t fake a marathon. Just because you found the website and location and paid your entry fee, doesn’t mean you show up and run. A mental mistake I made many times “learning” how to run. Great article thank you Terrell.
SAME. My Achilles chastised me Tuesday after kicking up my mileage too quickly. Gotta lengthen that runway.
Great motivation for work, too. When the the work gets seemingly impossible, I try to remember past days when “the impossible took a little longer” (yeah, saw it on a meme but it works here), and somehow I am able to arrive at a solution to a problem, or develop some missing laser step in a plan.