Seven Professional Lessons Learned from Long-Distance Running

I started running a few months back, and surprisingly have come to enjoy it. Having said this, it doesn't come without its fair share of pain and exhaustion. I have gone through numerous setbacks in the form of injuries, cramps, ligament pain, and muscular sprains. During this journey, I have picked up a few valuable lessons that I could apply in my professional life. I hope they would help you as much as they have for me:

“Nothing, not even pain, lasts forever. If I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I will eventually get to the end.” ~ Kim Cowart

• Don't attempt a PR (Personal Record) everyday: It takes determination and practice to attempt a PR. That is why it's so precious as it is a stepping stone for your growth. Everyday is not Sunday, neither is everyday a PR day. Similarly, your work days will have such opportunities for you to shine eg. an important presentation or a critical milestone. Save your energy and plan extensively for such moments that amp up your growth.

“Fast running isn’t forced. You have to relax and let the run come out of you.” ~ Desiree Linden

• Don't burn all your matches in the beginning: Plan your day and vary your pace as you progress through the race. Burning yourself out may give you a quick win, but in the long run you will lose the momentum. The key is to preserve your energy throughout the work day.

“A lot of people run a race to see who’s the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” ~ Steve Prefontaine

• It's not about winning: It's about becoming the best version of yourself. The real competition is to beat yourself and to push your limits. Take a look at the lineup of a marathon race. Those thousands of runners aren't there to win the podium. Instead, they participate to challenge themselves, to become a better version of themselves, and to take pride in their achievements. The same purpose should drive you to wake up everyday for work i.e. to become the best version of yourselves. Without this purpose, you will lose out the motivation to strive and would resort to survival which, in the long run, is detrimental.

“Things that hurt, instruct.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

• Don't quit after a bad day: Everyone has bad days, and those are times of reflection and introspection. A bad run can be a result of inappropriate sleep, stress, or just some unfortunate circumstances. But they sure are temporary, for every night has a day. Your body might not respond according to your expectations. Go easy on yourself on such days and make notes to acknowledge and act upon to return stronger the next day or the following week. Same principle applies for work. You might be going through a phase that doesn't define you in any way. Reflect and make notes to isolate your emotions and clear your thoughts. Incorporate those notes into your plan to return as a better individual and an improved team player.

“The only failure is not to try.” ~ George Clooney

• Injuries and setbacks make you stronger: Learn from your weakness and adapt. Your peers will marvel at your grit and resilience, but they haven't seen the hidden scars that embellish your shield a.k.a. experience. You always appear as the tip of the iceberg that encompasses your existence. Just like R.I.C.E. is a recovery mechanism for runners, so is the need to take a break from work in order to recuperate and rejuvenate your energy and improve productivity for work.

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” ~ Fred DeVito

• Arm yourself with the right gear: You can seriously injure yourself if you don't use the right gear for your runs i.e. proper shoes for the right distance, knee gear (if you need support) etc. Similarly the right gear on job comes in the form of certification, trainings, and the right skills for the job. Just as you may hurt your knees, shins, or toes terribly with the wrong shoes, lack of knee support, or dehydration, you may most definitely hurt your career by applying the wrong skillset, stagnation in credentials or lack of interpersonal skills, in your job role.

“Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” ~ Julie Isphording

• Consistency is the key: Last but not the least! Be it running, cycling, swimming, or any other sport, you need to be patient and easy on yourself. Listen to your mind and body connection. You need to push your limits, occasionally, but consistency is the key. Similarly, burning yourself out in your job won't yield results. You need to stay consistent and improve yourself 1% everyday. This allows your mind and body to gradually adapt to the increased productivity and work ethics.

I hope these lessons make a positive impact in your career as they have for mine.

Keep running, keep striving on your job, keep inspiring people around you. And do enjoy the journey, for success is a path and not a destination.

If you have similar lessons to share, then do comment and contribute to our mutual learning through your experience.

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