Rio Olympics is just around the corner! Everyone loves the Olympics because we love watching individuals challenge themselves, both mentally and physically, to break new records. Such achievements are success stories that transcends the sporting world. It inspires us to do more with our lives.
In collaboration with Summersault Activewear, we will be featuring our Olympics Series, with articles about life lessons that can be learned from famous sports. Here’s what we can learn from Running:
1) Expect the unexpected
“After I get this promotion, I’ll be happy. After I’m rich, I’ll be happy” Sounds familiar?
You’re running a hill and you’re thinking “This is it, it’s going to be easy after this hill”. Truth is there will always be another hill to run. So, if we run our lives expecting each challenge to be the last hill, we’ll be greatly discouraged by the next hill.
2) Think big, act small
Runners swear by this technique called “fartlek” (no, it does not involve farting). It involves dividing your desired distance into smaller intervals.
For example, jog for 100m and then run for the next 200m. Repeat that, and before you know it, you’ve run 5km. That’s one way to tackle seemingly challenging tasks, deceive your mind with simple steps.
3) Pace yourself
Marathon runners have to learn how to ration their energy because going all out at the beginning will result in a very painful run (muscle cramps anyone?)
Those who maintain a steady pace, usually find themselves having enough energy to sprint towards the finish line. So don’t work so hard in life and end up having a massive burnout.
4) You have to put in the work
Running is one of those sports you can’t cheat. Trying to complete a marathon without training will bring pain and injuries. Like what Warren Buffet says, “No matter how great the talent or efforts, some things just take time. You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant”.
5) Like a bottle of wine, you only get better over time
Unlike other sports, runners reach their peak performance later in their running career. That’s because what matters isn’t chronological age, but a runner’s history of aerobic training.
So if you think you’re not there yet in life, just remember you’re merely accumulating mileage (i.e life experience) to achieve your peak performance.
6) Finish what you’ve started
Running outdoors is a good way to train that mental muscle. When you’ve run 5km away from your home and you feel like giving up, you still have run back anyway. Note: unless you feel like fainting, then get some help.
7) Endure the bad to enjoy the good
Not all runners enjoy running. Some run because they aspire to be triathletes. In order to be a good triathlete, one must excel in swimming, cyling and running. Sometimes you have to do what you don’t like to do what you like.
8) Challenges make routine interesting
Running the same route can be quite a routine. But trying to run the same route faster every single time, now that’s a challenge. Running trains us to be better with seemingly ordinary habits.
9) Pay respect to those walking up the hill, its willpower in motion
We all start by walking up the hill before we could sprint. So pay respect to those who may not be moving as fast as you in life but have taken the first step. That is willpower in motion.
10) To run fast, run behind a faster person
The fastest way to be fast, is to run behind a faster runner. It’s not really about the secrets they can share (well, partially), it’s about creating the desire to be as fast as them. Soon you will be, and then it’s about being faster than yourself.
