What Makes a Successful Runner?
It’s not how fast or far you run.
Running can be a hard gig no matter what your motives are for doing it, and running consistently over a long period of time only emphasizes this. Alongside training plans, goals, weather, injuries… a pandemic?! There are plenty of hurdles to jump along the way.
Whatever your standards or expectations are it’s unrealistic to expect high performances all year round, especially without races and events to keep you switched on. Any athlete would agree. But are high-level performances what define our success as a runner?
I don’t think so.
Success as a runner can not be defined by the weekly distance covered, the average pace or the length of time spent running. Instead, it should be recognised as being an active participant, identified by running on a regular and consistent basis.
Running should be a habit.
The speed, the distance and the duration will come. However, the easiest and least physically challenging thing to control in becoming a successful runner is your commitment. And frankly, there’s never been a better time to stay committed to running.
Commitment
So what is commitment?
It is ‘Being dedicated to an activity or a cause’ and is ‘an act, not a word’
Commitment is what creates consistency and brings on improvements with running, like any form of exercise it is the key component to our development, success and enjoyment. It’s the trait that means we don’t stop and lose the progress we have made, and whether we’re having a good or bad day we keep going. It builds our habits.
As a result, commitment will also overflow into other areas of your life helping the process of prioritising certain aspects of life and developing consistency in these areas (what a bonus!).
Figure out your why
To make a commitment you need to figure out your why.
Are you running for enjoyment, weight loss, competitions, a challenge? Perhaps you’re just competitive and want to be better than your friends.
Running is something I did a lot when I was younger, whether it was sprinting or long-distance I wanted to do it, it gave me both peace and excitement and allowed me to always be challenging myself. Which is the very reason I’ve always maintained it in some capacity.
How?
- Establish when you’re going to run. Pick a regular pattern, set days or runs you’re going to do per week. I like to run every other day, meaning I get 4 runs in one week and three in the next.
- Plan your routes. Know your surroundings and the routes you want to take for specific runs, whether its a long, short, fast or slow run. You want to make sure you have various routes in your head and you know where you’re heading when you leave the house.
- Pick a type of run. Interval, fartlek, endurance, short, sprints, hills… the more you mix it up the better. The variety will help the mind and body, keeping you excited and ready for the challenge.
Like anything, to be a successful runner you have to overcome the days where you do not want to do it. The biggest challenge when you feel like this is simply getting out of the door and this is where commitment comes in. Don’t be afraid to break your original plan down and go for a shorter run in duration and distance. The key is that you get a run done. More often than not once you’re on your way you’ll immediately feel better and be happy to push on for more than you planned.
Be Aware
Running isn’t always about targets and goals, especially if this overcomes your excitement for the sport. Some times it helps to take a step back and lower expectations and just lace the trainers up without a purpose other than getting some exercise.
Final Thoughts
By committing, you build a habit and by making running habit you are no longer a person who aims to run a few times a week.
You become a runner.
And that makes you a successful runner.
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