Finding Your Pace

I’ve run eight marathons and had numbers nine and ten scheduled in 2020 before COVID-19 hit.

And, in every one of those races I have hit two hurdles.

The first hurdle happens at the beginning when I can’t find my pace. The race begins and for the first couple of miles I cannot settle into a pace I feel like I can maintain through to the end.

The emotions of a new challenge flood in, from the feelings of uncertainty to the excitement of being part of a community. Still, when it’s hard to find your pace then you start questioning your abilities. I ask myself, am I falling apart, did I choose the right gear, did I start too fast or too slow?

Every race I’ve been part of I’ve hit the hurdle of finding my pace and in each one of those, I can tell you that you settle into a pace that works for you for that particular race.

You don’t have to have run a marathon to have been in an endurance event in life before.

Think back to an enduring challenge you have successfully overcome before. How was your pace at the beginning, middle, and end? What activities did you do to settle into your pace?

We definitely have found ourselves in a new race and if you’re like me the pace you started with is different now. This race may feel stranger than others you have been part of before, but you have been through and overcome other challenges. Recognizing new demands for what they are and leveraging your own experiences and others will help you settle into a pace you can maintain.

The second hurdle in the marathon metaphor is the inevitable wall.  Like finding your pace knowing there will be a wall is the best tool you have.  The worst mistake you can make is to think you won’t hit it for this race. The best time is now to recognize this upcoming challenge and to starting thinking of your plan of action for it.

As you’re working through your pace in life I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or send a message to @mark_hutchins