Success Requires Hard Work

Look at that picture from high school - the one on the left if you couldn't tell ;).  Don't I look scared?!?!  I should have been. I had no discipline. Often, us distance runners were left to ourselves to complete our workouts.  I distinctly remember this one day at practice my senior year. As seniors we were the leaders, in charge of carrying out the working prescribed by the coach.  We were instructed to complete half mile repeats.  I don’t remember how many we were told to do, but I know we were scheming to get away with doing less. One of the brand new freshman said to us, “We are never going to get better that way.” What did we do? We made fun of her and told her she could do more herself if she wanted to.  I wish I could slap my b*tchy teenage self: 1) for being mean to the new girl (who, by the way, was right) and 2) for not working up to my potential.  

Now look at the picture on the left. That’s me yesterday after completing 6 half mile repeats – ALL BY MYSELF.  Nobody told me to do it. I did it because I knew it would make me better.  I’m getting older and will probably never be as fast again as I was in high school.  I wish I could go back and tell myself that SUCCESS REQUIRES HARD WORK. There are no short cuts, no cutting corners if you want to reach your goals.  The feeling of “what if” is not a good one.  I cannot go back.  All I can do is be the best version of myself today, tomorrow and the next day.

 PS. Half mile repeats are one of the best things you can do to improve your time in running, whether you are training for a 5k or a marathon.  I can help make it a part of your customized training plan.  Ask me how!