Ready, steady... slow!

As my 6AM alarm sounded Wednesday morning, I thought to myself, “It’s just an easy run; it’s not even that important.”

Having digested countless running podcasts, videos and articles over the years, I fought with my internal monologue (and the comfort of the teddy bear fleece bedding we’ve recently invested in) just enough to slide out of bed and into my trainers. Because, deep down, I know that the easy run is a non-negotiable in any training plan.

The easy run aids recovery, improves endurance, better spaces out more intense sessions and actually – are you ready for this!? – helps you run faster. If you need any more convincing, low intensity, ‘slower’ running makes up over 75% of Eliud Kiphchoge’s (one of our greatest marathon runners) weekly training, and, if it’s good enough for Kipchoge, it’s good enough for me. Mind you, I’ll skip one or two of his 13 weekly sessions if you don’t mind…

We often talk about – brag about, even – how fast-paced life is. As someone working in the Bids profession, I’m under no illusion that meeting word counts, crafting executive summaries and co-ordinating a winning Bid team and response (although very satisfying), isn’t saving lives. But it can be a marathon in its own way. ?

Over the last six months, I’ve managed three complex retention tenders with three brilliant Bid teams. With each opportunity and stage, we came up against brand new challenges, learnt new lessons and tried new things. This was an extremely rewarding season where I, alongside colleagues, created work and results that I’m extremely proud of. This last half a year has been the most fast-paced work period I’ve experienced to date; it’s also represented some of the most joyous bidding moments I’ve had, whilst challenging me at every step. ?

So, after a bit of annual leave in early February and a Guinness or 13 (my version of Kipchoge’s training regime) in Dublin with friends, when a quiet week presented itself this Monday morning (shh, don’t tell anyone!), I decided to run with it.

Much like the easy run, the easy days, weeks or months (Bids people, don’t kid yourselves!) at work are the backbone of preparing for more productive, efficient and enjoyable work projects and processes that are in the pipeline.

In Bids world, since that’s what I know best, ‘low intensity training’ looks like revitalising your content library with fresh answers from recent submissions, or writing up new case studies your colleagues have flagged to you over the last few weeks and months. It’s about carving out time to get invaluable feedback from the stakeholders you’ve been working with, the clients you’ve submitted bids to and spending a good amount of time reflecting yourself… What went well? What didn’t work? What processes can we put in place or what work can we do now to position ourselves even better next time? ?

A couple of miles into my run on Wednesday, on already very tired legs, I reminded myself what the easy run is really for. I switched my Garmin’s screen from the pace and mileage set-up us runners obsess over, to the screen that focuses solely on heart rate. I’d chosen to ditch my headphones that morning and so had no podcast or 80s Pop Hits Party playlist on (you’re welcome) to distract me and therefore no excuse but to trust the process of an easy run. Although, let me tell you, it hits different when George sings, ‘My beats per minute never been the same’ in Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go when I’m pounding the pavements a little faster.

But, without the distraction of Wham!, it took a conscious and focused effort to meet the objectives of what an easy run should be. Instead of keeping a close eye on my pace, I kept a relaxed eye on my heart rate, slowed right down, focused on my form and enjoyed the process of simply getting the miles in my legs. All of which, I know, will benefit me massively when race day comes along. And, in doing so, I finished the run feeling energised and as though I’d be ready for a tougher session after a couple of days’ rest.

And at work? Well, this week, I’ve embraced a week of no deadlines. I’ve saved down at least half a year’s worth of bid content, reflected on my performance and my improvement areas, and quietly celebrated the wins of the last six months. As I was reminded on my easy run Wednesday morning, in a way, slowing down requires a more concerted and tougher effort than slipping back into old habits, running too fast and risking damage to myself and my training plan.

Sure, I won’t be getting any PBs this week. But regular recovery, whether in running or at work, puts us in good stead for when ‘the’ big bid lands or when ‘the’ big run arrives.