Training, 1 part action, 4 parts Motivation.

Any training, education, or exercise program is 1 part effort and 4 parts motivation.  For the effort to be sustained it is important to have the reason to go for it, whether that be spiritual, financial, or for your health.

I have several friends that ask how many miles are you doing a week or month.  After your answer they nod and ask about the courses or routes.  After explaining the route they are indignant that I would call that 3.75 mile route 4 miles.  They would comment “Oh you’re not doing 30 miles a week.  You are doing 25 miles a week”.  Its the old “you’re not as good as I am, because I always round down” syndrome.

This is where my pet peeve kick in.  So many of us allow our egos to take control and get caught up in the numbers that we don’t focus on what’s import.  The point is whatever it take to motivate a person is ok.  It pretty easy to get up in the morning and have that first cup of coffee, but you need a reason to get out the door and start that morning jog or run.  If you run that same 3.75 mile course on a regular bases and it motivate you for whatever reason to do it again tomorrow then who cares.  If a run is easier today than yesterday, then that is what its about.

Honesty and candid feedback is important, but it’s not a license to tear people down.  This is typically the excuse that is used when stifling a person.   I believe the key is to expand ones focus beyond there nose.  Everything isn’t about you all the time, just as it true that it is all about you sometimes.  So when you feel like the phase “I’m just being honest” is about to erupt, weight the consequences.

We all have choices:

1. We can encourage someone to improve their health, their finances, or their spiritual life or
2. We can discourage them to bring them down.

Which one is going to make you feel better about yourself.  I suggest if it is option 2 get some counseling.

So if someone talks about how god lifted there spirit or old John said he ran 20 miles Saturday when he really only ran 16 miles, let it go.  The important thing is that they were uplifted and old John did 16 miles and they are excited about it.

Give support and encouragement to your fellow runner or fellow man, whatever the endeavor. You may need it yourself sometime.