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"I
want to challenge your thinking by
changing the way you think about
perfection and excellence." |
Running is one of those
sports in which we can exercise all the different
parts of our being; physical, mental and spiritual.
Because there are so many "outside"
forces which can affect our ability to run
with ease, we are constantly correcting and
improving the way we run, hoping to reach
"perfection". I want to challenge
your thinking by changing the way you think
about perfection and excellence. Perfection
is static. It is a point on a linear scale
which denotes flawlessness and purity. Once
you achieve perfection there is only one way
to go: towards imperfection.
You cannot stand
on that (perfect) point continually, you have
to move. Excellence, however, is dynamic.
It is constantly evolving, improving and expanding.
It is the line. Running excellently means
you move within a range, not off a "point"
into something less than perfect. A study
was done a number of years ago with college-age
runners. On the first day, they were asked
to run the track as fast as they could, all
out, and their times were recorded. The second
day the runners were told to run "three
quarters" speed, as easily as they could.
Their times were again recorded. What was
interesting was that both times were almost
exactly the same. The runners had achieved
"excellence with ease". Without
straining, the runners ran as fast as they
did going "all out".
"Studies
show that even an imbalanced posture
can lead to a greater use of energy
and muscle contractions just to support
us..." |
In order to achieve
consistent levels of excellence in our running,
we need to look at all the other aspects
of our life which deter or diminish our
physical and mental health.
We need to make sure we get adequate, restful
sleep. We need to eat in a healthful way.
We need to maintain a balanced posture,
keep a positive mental attitude and make
sure our nervous system and immune system
are working at 100%. Studies show that even
an imbalanced posture can lead to a greater
use of energy and muscle contractions just
to support us sitting or standing, creating
inefficiency in our movements. There is
also the potential loss of strength and
flexibility which can detract from any and
all areas of performance in our lives.
Ultimately,
we can look at our running as a prime
example of how we "run" our
lives.
If there is excellence with ease in our
runs, then it tends to suggest the same
in other areas of our life. This is not
to say that everything is easy. Running,
like good health, should be simple and
regular. In fact, "the secret to
success is consistency of purpose".
Being consistent in the mundane, everyday
aspects of our life will help us to achieve
consistent excellence in our running.
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