Start strong but finish stronger

Having just watched the American team pursuit team give up almost two seconds to the British in the last 750m of a 4K race I was struck by the importance of patience.

Historically it has been not a trait I have been known for and regularly I ask the question; why can’t I have it now? The job, the money, the car… I am sure you get the gist. Over the last year or so I have taken up running, not to say I didn’t run before, I did, a lot, though never with an aim in mind, never with something to drive me on when the going got tough.

This journey has seen me go from trotting 10k along the Thames southbank (a respectable distance anyway) to regularly running a marathon at the weekend, and a couple of halves mid week, all for the sake of being ready for the ‘worlds toughest foot race’. A 192 mile jaunt in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert. This journey has not been a short one, I have progressively seen myself improve, get stronger, fitter and faster and this is all great news. You need to be strong, fit and fast to compete.

However, perhaps most important has been the effect on my mental state, both at home and at work. I still crave the job, money, the motorbike etc. But recognise that just as I have to dedicate hours of my life to training to achieve my goals so to must I dedicate time to my personal life and my work to ensure I achieve the success I desire. A wise man once said “the harder I work, the luckier I become”, I would say “the harder I work, the better I get”. Luck is rare but talent takes time.