Closer Than You Think

5 Minute Read

We’re athletes, and we have big goals.

Have you ever heard of the ultraman? Yea…

Whatever your lofty goal may be, whether it’s a new longest race (half, full, or ultra marathon) or some type of time-based achievement, we usually need to craft a big ‘ol training plan. And such a plan can last months, and sometimes years depending on the goal.

And when you take the first step into a training plan that is going to last…. well… a while, it can feel like your goal is very, very far away.

But here’s the reality: the progress you’re looking for is closer than it may seem. And we can prove it to you.

Compounding Small Improvements

Training for a race is just like investing in the stock market. Every day (or week, or paycheck, or whatever) that passes, maybe you add just a liiiitttle bit. Just a little.

And each day, week, month that passes, you probably won’t even notice a change. But over time, those small efforts compound like crazy, until your little baby account has turned into the ultra-runner of personal finance.

So let’s bring this into our running - imagine you’re running 20 miles a week. Increasing mileage 10% each week is a good goal, and a common strategy. Week to week (especially in the beginning of a training plan) this might feel really slow. But in just 5 months, your mileage would grow to 134 miles per week. That’s a 6.7x increase! It sounds wild, but that’s the power of compounding.

Of course, increasing mileage to a crazy 100+ mile week without drop/recovery weeks isn’t advisable, but this example illustrates a crucial point: what seems like minor progress in the moment is actually adding up to significant growth over time. Each small, consistent improvement is a step closer to your goal, even if it doesn’t feel monumental right now.

Time is Funny

Time is a funny business. So let’s do a thought experiment:

Think about a previous training cycle you completed. Maybe a race last year? Or maybe a previous season where things just clicked? Does it seem as though the whole experience kind of flew by? Days turned to weeks turned to months. And just like that, your training season was over. Perhaps you’re even nostalgic of that time, and it just went too fast.

But what about today? How does your training feel? When we’re in the middle of a training plan, things often feel much slower. Days may seem to drag on. Our goals can still feel distant, and every long run just gets longer, and longer.

That’s just how it goes. Time seems to move at different paces.

What’s the takeaway? Enjoy the whole experience. It will fly by. And if progress seems slow, take a deep breath and be patient. Because you’ll very soon look back on the experience and wish you could do it again.

Enjoy the Process

When we try to live in the moment, and enjoy every day of training, we can also learn to better appreciate the hardest days. The long runs,the sprint workouts, and the high mileage weeks are all part of a larger picture. Enjoy the moments of effort because, before you know it, they’ll become distant memories, and you'll be looking back with a sense of accomplishment and nostalgia.

Wrap It Up

Whatever stage you're at, remember: you’re closer to your goal than you think. Small improvements are compounding, and time is ticking away faster than it feels. So make the most of every run, and appreciate the progress you’re making, however incremental it might seem.

With this mindset, we can build a routine we love, and train consistently. With consistency, we build passion.