Rising up to the challenge of Running
Dr. Maryam Al-Mansoori - IDP-C
Strategic Management, Leadership, Organizational Development, and Board Governance. Certified in Corporate Governance (ICCG) and Digital Strategy at INSEAD, Member at Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) 2022
A runner summed up his marathon years as:
At mile 20, I thought I was dead.
At mile 22, I wished I was dead.
At mile 24, I knew I was dead.
At mile 26.2, I realized I had become too though to kill.
Running as sport sounds easy and even looks easy when you observe how runners crossing running tracks gracefully. For a second, you feel they fly off the ground. But it is not as easy as it looks. Running requires training in how to save your energy at the start and accelerating slowly to reach the end goal. You have to engage your whole-body muscles as well as engage with your surroundings. Doing tempo runs to find the right pace you can maintain and build your body’s ability to run faster for longer period of time are important for runners. Running shoes are another factor for making a good runner. Choosing the shoes is not also as easy as it seems as you have to know what are you looking for; is it comfort, stability, lightweight, trail or a mix of all! Knowing where you will be running aids in making the right choice.
Motivation for physically demanding tasks such as marathon runs fuels the energy to accept the challenge that comes with it. Personally, I always thought running is an easy thing for those physically active and doing a whole range of different types of sports. But this was a myth got busted! Whatever exercises and sports were mastered, running is a whole different game. My friends Najwa and Marwa got me into their world. The world of runners. It was an impulsive decision that I made and I feel its consequences now in my bones! If someone asked what is my song now, it would be definitely Eye of the Tiger by Survivor ;)
The same is true of our personal or work objectives. You have to know your fitness level to achieve your goal, get the right training, set the right tempo, get the right tools and above all be clear on the motivation behind doing this. Your motivation is your fuel to sustain your energy till the end. Last advise, make sure you have the right company in the journey to give you a kick when is needed :)
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3 年Great one!
CEO SCALA. Serial entrepreneur. Inventor of the world's ONLY behaviour-based growth mindset assessment.
3 年Yes. I agree with the words of the marathon running. Those were my thoughts when I ran the marathon. And after I crossed the finish line, I told myself, "Job well done! Never again!" These days I don't run more than 8km in a stretch! But you are right.... we need to know our fitness level, we need to have the right equipment, and we need to have a supporting team!