Optimize for progress, not outcomes!

I went from not running for 10 years to doing 5k in less than 3 months - but not the way you probably think I did it!

Let me explain:?

For the first 2 months and 20 days, my sole focus was on doing the 5k by Thanksgiving, and I didn't take anything else into account, I simply started. Which isn't bad, don't get me wrong, I had to start running before anything else.?

I was able to get myself to run for about a mile, a mile and a half, consistently very quickly. But I couldn't break the barrier until 10 days ago I sat down and analyzed what am I doing. Was I giving myself the biggest chance of succeeding? Let's see:

?My mindset was outcome-oriented, not necessarily the best approach considering that...

?I started running on 3 different types of terrain that were constantly switching, putting different intensities on my joints and feet

? I used a random pair of shoes I had "for exercise"

? I didn't even know how much was I running initially because I didn't have a fitness tracker (I was convinced it was 2 miles when in fact it was 0.8) - and it's funny, I obsess over data at work, and make all the decisions based off of it, and I didn't do the same for a personal goal

? I was doing my runs regularly but I never calculated how much time would I need to do a 5k. At my speed, it will take me almost a full hour which I didn't set aside every morning to do.?

? I went running thinking "This is the day" regardless of my sleep or eating schedule the day before?

? I would do dry runs, no water or any music, or at best listen to podcasts

? Most times, I would just do a short warmup walk only, less than 200-300 steps

Obviously, I was making a mistake. I set a low goal, but created so many obstacles to make it hard to achieve - Instead of setting a high goal but making it as easy as possible to succeed.?

To correct this, I:

? I switched my mindsets to pursue progress, small, incremental - Just a step more, just 100 yards more. Didn't care for 5k anymore, it's an artificial construct to begin with?

? I started running on a track - soft, even and uniform surface

? I went earlier for my runs to have enough time set aside

? Bought a fitness tracker (note to self: duh you idiot)?

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? I had a decent meal and good sleep the night before?

? I created a good playlist to keep me hyped up and brought a bottle of water with me?

? I did half a mile with a bike to the track to get warmed up

Maybe this latter, new system is how you normal people do things in life, but not me.?

When I have a personal goal, I unfortunately don't analyze the journey enough and never look for "shortcuts" - quite the opposite, I ensure that attaining success is as hard as possible but "within reach", to make the feeling of achieving more impactful, regardless of how it felt to get there. Not anymore!?

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Before you set out on a journey, make sure that you stack all the odds in your favor. Set yourself up for success in the easiest way possible. Do not put additional obstacles in front of you. You should try your damn hardest to make the journey towards your goal as easy and as smooth as possible. Don't build more walls, set more ambitious goals and get longer ladders.

Sometimes just doing without thinking is totally fine - for instance, when you want to make your bed all you have to do is get up and make it. But if you set out to make a specific type of breakfast, it's likely much faster to do it if you went to the store the night before and bought all the ingredients that you needed, right??

My running journey was never about stamina, I had it all along in me to do it. It was only a mindset shift and switching the environment, but most importantly, setting the initial conditions in my favor that helped me get where I originally wanted. I no longer have a desired number in mind, I just want to make progress, run more and enjoy more while doing it.?

So there are a few lessons here that I learned:?

1?? When I observe my future outcomes, I better spend some time also observing whether I'm setting myself up for success by giving myself the pathway of least resistance to get there

2?? Make sure that it's not all about the achievement, but also define how to enjoy the journey. The reason why I was able to break the 2-mile barrier I was stuck at was because half the time I wasn't running, in my mind I was dancing to the rhythm of the song that was in my headphones.?

And yes, for running per se, distractions are always helpful. One of the distractions I had while doing this was that I dictated this post using voice-to-text as I was crossing the 4.5 mark. I was convinced I had it in me to do another half a mile so I started dictating the post, and by the time I was finished doing the draft, I was just a few steps away. It's okay to distract yourself as long as it leads to the desired outcome.?

This post is not the best post I will publish, but it's progress. I would have never done it if I didn't make the change in mindset.?

Here's a photo of my foot, when crossing the 5K mark. It's no longer a goal, the goal is progress and consistency.?

If you stayed with me till now, I wish you to have the feeling of victory I felt this morning for a goal of your own.?

And remember (Lazar), set yourself up for the easiest path possible, and be more ambitious if you need a challenge instead ??