The Marathon Is Over. 5 Questions Every Runner Should Now Ask.
Congratulations! However race day went, you got through the training. You spent months with a goal, a schedule, a reason to get out of bed early, and a community working towards the same celebration. Then, more suddenly than we realize, the marathon is over. So what’s next?
Before moving forward with any next goal or training plan, ask these five questions first.
CELEBRATION
1. What did you get to celebrate when you arrived at your starting line?
In other words, “what am I proud of that has nothing to do with my finishing time?” Reflect on your journey from Day 1 (could be 5 months ago or 5 years ago) to Race Morning. The idea that the marathon is the easy part is no cliche. Where did you show courage or resilience, why did you keep going when things were difficult, how were you stronger at the start line than you ever were before (think physically, sure, but also mentally or spiritually, there’s an answer there…find it).
SELF WORTH
2. What did this training cycle teach me about myself?
In the first question, we found your successes, but what was the value at stake or the discovery you made to allow you to face the adversity when it arose, or overcome the challenge when it was presented? Training plans will never be the same, and will never be fully predicted. Things will change, that’s a part of the process. How did those changes change you?
Reflect on how you responded to setbacks, handled uncertainty, and adapted when things didn’t go to plan.
GROWTH
3. What opportunities am I excited to work on?
It’s impossible to grow at everything in every single way. Even with the most perfect training program and experience, some things will need to be higher priorities than others. Some parts of your fitness or journey might have grown, but others may have stalled. You may feel you made mistakes or missed chances to grow in ways you wanted.
These opportunities could be simple things like strength, speed, mobility, fueling practices, or weight management/body composition. It could be more complex opportunities like confidence or self-worth, identity, or lifestyle management. Turn your observations of weakness or losses into opportunities, not criticisms or failures.
IDENTITY
4. Who do I want to become before my next starting line?
Who you are today is the 1.0 version of yourself. The day you reach your next goal is “2.0 You.” What is different about that person that is not the case for the person reading this right now? Do you do things differently, feel things differently, communicate things differently, dream about things differently. What’s the process you need to develop (not necessarily reach, at least not yet) the foundations of that 2.0 You?
Shift from chasing a single outcome to developing the habits and qualities of the human or athlete you want to be.
EXCITEMENT & LIFESTYLE
5. How can I keep growing without needing another marathon to motivate me?
Having a race on the calendar is a great way to keep energy going, focused visualization, strong and measurable goals, and at least some kind of pressure to maintain a degree of consistency. But what other things are important to you? Yes, this is essentially a way of setting other goals, but beyond that, what about the process is truly exciting. What is it about a health and fitness routine that starts to feel like part of your lifestyle and not simply an extra thing you have to somehow make time for? What are the factors you need in your environment to support this as well? Think about your place of importance in the world around you. Consider family values and community relationships, find the building blocks to secure happier and healthier longevity, evaluate the roles you set for others around you. Finding a stronger purpose and building a stronger lifestyle can lead to greater excitement about the routines you set regardless of the goals you chase.
NOW WHAT?
Begin the next chapter.
We don’t need to become 2.0 You tomorrow. We just need to cultivate the process to develop the opportunity to make a stronger impact on yourself and those around you, one step and one question at a time.
If you want an even easier approach to improved performance, please sign up for a complimentary consultation with me here or at the link below!
If you’re looking to get stronger now that your marathon is over and would like to know four ways to build more muscle as a runner, Click to read more…
Happy running!
Nick Savin
