Experience is the BEST Teacher

Today was a long run - 11 miles.  It was rather warm in Ft Worth, even at 5:30 am.  But this is my second year in this marathon training program, and I have learned some things in the past 12 months

• Prepare the night before.  I have forgotten so many things - running watch, iPod, just to name a few. So now I lay out everything the night before and leave notes for myself.  Getting up at 4:30 am is hard enough.  To add thinking and remembering to it is just too much
• Keep your own pace/ don't worry about getting passed up.  I have to remember I am training for my race and what everyone else does will not effect my race.  So what if I am the last one in my group to finish - if I ran my planned pace - I won!!!
• Pay attention to the elements.You can't do your best in the heat.  It truly is not an excuse to run slower in hot weather.  You are doing good just to get up and run the prescribed miles and sometimes you can't even do that.  I'm learning the balance between pushing myself, and listening to my body.  I don't have to run personal best or break records every day.

What I learn in running actually applies to real life.  

• Preparation is always good whether is is running or leading a group or visiting a museum.  It helps to do a little homework and prepare ahead of time-like find out hours and days of operation of the Bush Library before you drive an hour to go. I little prep saves a lot of frustration.
• Whether it is career, vacations, school, accomplishments, salary, your kids  or friends, comparison is always lethal. When we compare two things can happen.   To compare  yourself favorably breeds arrogance or complacency.  To compare yourself unfavorably results in discouragement and doubt.  To quote Andy Stanley, " There is no win in comparison." In everything - run your own pace.
• Some days, jobs, groups, activities are just not good for you all the time.  There are seasons in life, and it helps to pay attention to the elements to make sure it is a good season for you.  I am 54 and I can no longer ride roller coasters - they make me sick.   I  still enjoy amusement parks, just different ares than I enjoyed when I was younger. Michael J. Fox had a great quote that I apply when seasons of life change, "My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in reverse proportion to my expectations."

So today I ran a 10:28 pace - exactly what I am supposed to run. Between now and October 13 I need to get 1 minute faster per mile.  But I did this last year, and I know what not to do and I'm learning what to do.  Experience is teaching me.

Learning as I run,

TVW