Lessons Learned From 2005

This was a post on the runnersworld forums, and I really liked it. I have my own list, but I encourage you to take a moment to think about what you learned this year…

pallasgypsy: _So we’ve had the “highs & lows of 2005” thread, the “how many races have you run in 2005” thread…so ready for another one? :p Since some of us (cough, cough) have had less-than-stellar years, I thought it would be beneficial to focus on the positives and think about what valuable running lessons were learned. Maybe PR’s weren’t set, maybe PW’s were…maybe your training was slacking or non-existant or presented so many hurdles you thought you were on the track & field team…but inevitably, at the end of the day, running is the sort of sport where you always walk away with more than you came, with revelations both profound and mundane.</p>

So what momentous lessons of running have you learned this year? Common-sense rules of running you never paid heed to but now honour them? Not-so-obvious insights and deeper revelations that have come to fruition & helped you grow as a runner? Post ’em! 😀 Best wishes to all for a stellar 2006 running year!</i>

My list:

1. Have a firm goal in mind. Let it seap into you, own it, become it. Don’t ever doubt yourself.

2. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.

3. As runners, we give ourselves a second of leeway: we get disappointed when we run 3:41:00 rather than 3:40:59. That’s self-defeating.

4. It’s ok to change goals or plans. (See #2). Do what feels right to you at the time.

5. Running is a sport we can hopefully do for decades. No use injuring yourself for one day (particularly a training day!) and putting a future in jeopardy.

6. The best runs are the ones you have to drag yourself out to do..