Management lessons from Marathon running
Glad to share my article ‘Management lessons from marathon running’ published in the business magazine ‘Corporate Citizen’ in its April 16 to 30, 2022 issue. (Hard copy). The soft link was not working so copy-pasted the article in this LinkedIn post.
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I remember, it was one of those annual check-ups that had shown my cholesterol level pretty high. Doctor advised me to walk at least 30 minutes a day, besides suitable changes in diet. After some inertia, I started for morning walk. I was working out of Chennai those days. ?30 min. walk in the perennially humid weather was soon viewed as a boring exercise. As a short-cut (rather, to finish the ordeal fast), I thought why not to run for 10 min. instead of 30 min. walk? And I decided for running. On day one, I could have run for hardly 2 minutes before panting profusely. But soon, I could increase running for 10 min. at a stretch. I also realized that I enjoy running.
?Around same time, I’d seen a couple of friends’ posts on social media about 10K running. I googled, found out some information, spoke to a couple of friends, spoke to doctor, got some good suggestions , got the essential running accessories (including Asics shoes and Fitbit watch) and I started running for 15 minutes on every weekday & 20-25 minutes on weekends, in early mornings. Began waking up with 6 am alarm, completing the run much before traffic started and reaching office well in time.
?One day I heard the ad. of Chennai marathon on FM radio, googled to find out more details & registered for my maiden 10K run. That time, my objective was simple, I just wanted to complete 10K run (& not retire mid-way). ?Started running for longer durations on weekends. I’d made a resolve not to back out and run full 10 km. come what may. Besides the usual running, I also had a couple of long runs (6 km, 8 km) just to see whether I had the stamina for 10K run.
To my surprise, I found myself completing my first 10K run in Wipro-Chennai marathon successfully. (Can’t forget? the cheering from complete strangers and more so from fellow-runners urging not to give up or not to rest for long, asking to get up and continue running, especially in the last leg!)
?Years passed on, I persisted with the newly acquired good habit of running and saw myself completing seven 10K races in last 5+ years.
?One needs to do quite some spadework (besides building the physical stamina) for running a marathon (42K) or even for that matter a 10K race. ‘Run-walk-run’ helps in lowering the heart rate, sprint run (for 3-4 minutes) helps in increasing overall speed, running against a gradient helps in increasing stamina for long run. The other details include planning for the logistics of reaching the venue/start point of the race and coming home after the end of race. Mostly marathons start pretty early in the morning at 5 pm or 6 pm latest), accordingly you need to get up at 4 am or even earlier. ?You should have eaten light dinner (but rich in carbohydrate) on previous night. You need to run light. ?I don’t carry water bottle (I drink at water stations arranged by race organizers) or even a wallet.? The only exception is mobile phone and some hard cash. If the end point is different than start point (I have witnessed it in some marathons), you need to plan for call taxi. Race organizers/ city officials close most of the leading roads/arteries to marathon venue for almost half-day, so getting a cab/rikshaw also becomes a challenge and bigger so when you’re exhausted running 10K! ?
?I see quite some parallels between this preparation, marathon running, having an eye for the minute detail and the art and science of Management!
Here are some observations, rather management lessons one can learn from marathon running.
?·?????????I had scripted my message (of what I would post on social media ?? immediately after I’d registered myself for the marathon (10k). Only time (taken to finish the race) was kept blank. This writing down in advance was a very powerful stimulant. You have committed to yourself and now don’t want to let yourself down, come what may! I began waking up early in the mornings (4 am) for practice runs of various kinds; started giving more attention to diet, intake of more fluid, fruits etc. ?Increased protein intake in the diet (more egg-whites, pulses, sprouts), increased water intake to 3 liters a day.? Citrus fruits not only increase fluid level in the body but also Vit. C enhancing immunity.
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?Begin with end in the mind. Visualize the end result. Write down the goals.
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?·????????I remember Chennai marathon more because of humid weather and steep gradient in the route. Even though the race was flagged off at 5.30 am, the humid weather kicked in within no time making running on the steep flyover (near Adyar, Chennai) quite some task. I had to drink water at least twice in every 10 minutes, sat for a minute or two due to cramp and again got up, determined to run. ?Last Pune marathon had some absolute dirt track immediately within 200 meters of start. It was pitch dark at 6 am (no streetlights) and you had to run on uneven ground (ensuring you’re not slipping/spraining ankle). There was also the menace of street dogs for a few kilometers. Somewhere in Balewadi Highstreet I slipped off the road while avoiding street dogs chasing each other. One of the kind-hearted fellow-runners stopped , gave me a helping hand, made me sit at the curb side, offered me water. My ankle was sprained, had a minor bruise but luckily it was minor. I did some stretches and joined runners again (to the surprise of many younger runners!)?
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Every year is unique, every quarter is unique with its own challenges, new variables. Be flexible to accept/accommodate/adapt the change
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?·?????????For a marathon, every kilometer counts, every lap counts, every step counts. Your consistency, average speed matters. Like a test cricketer paces his innings while scoring a century, you need to pace your run!
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You don’t build a great organization overnight. You do it year by year; quarter by quarter, week by week, every day
领英推荐
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?·?????????Yes, just when you are in the last leg of your race for the stupendous finish, you feel those cramps in legs, you feel totally tired, totally exhausted. For a split second you think like ‘why-am-I-doing-this-at-this-age?’. You feel like stopping, rather giving it up! But then you exhort yourself to buck up, to get that last gasp, grit, determination, will-power all put together and you raise your steps again and ?...you touch the finishing line...to glory!!!
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You need to conquer the proverbial last mile challenge ensuring thinking of and execution of every little detail tirelessly, giving your 120%
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I could be biased here but I think running is one of the best exercises. It is wholesome, the good effects are seen in almost every cell of your body. It is the best cardiovascular exercise for your heart. The profuse sweating you experience after running outdoors could be the best catharsis one can have! You just shed the negative vibes like sweat! When you’re running, you’re brimming with confidence! The perseverance of running the grueling 10K rubs on and you handle challenges in work life with more confidence, more positivity!
The prevalent sedentary and irregular lifestyle of NextGen (which includes binge-watching OTT for whole nights) is inviting troubles pretty early in life. Professionals in 30’s are seen complaining of burnout, are not able to handle even minor bumps in corporate life succumbing to depression. Running could be the best exercise in helping them finding their mojo back!
Nevertheless, do consult your doctor/physiotherapist before you start running no matter what your age is. If for any reasons, running is not recommended, find out whether you can walk. Brisk walk could be the right exercise for you.
Couldn't resist sharing a?quote here. While the figurative meaning is awesome, sharing it here more for its literal meaning.
“If you can't run, walk.?If you can't walk, crawl, but by all means, keep moving” –
Martin Luther King Jr.” ?
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-Prashant Pimpalekar
(Sr. Vice President,
Sify Digital Services Ltd.)