Go Slow, Go Further

2-Minute Read

In life, we’re often told to go big or go home. Push harder. Do more.

But when achieving something great—whether in running, work, or any other aspect of life—the smartest thing we can do is to slow down, and learn.

First we learn. Then we add volume.

Build Foundation First

Running can teach us a lot about life.

When we’re starting out, we might feel the urge to jump straight into high-mileage training. But if we do so, we’d metaphorically be pouring water into a leaky bucket.

We haven’t learned proper fueling, proper recovery, how to avoid injury, how to be consistent, how to design a training plan, etc. etc. etc. So why dump more volume onto a weak foundation?

When we rush, we miss critical steps. We bypass the process of learning how to train smart and sustainable, and instead focus solely on volume. But the reality is that when we skip over these learning moments, we'll eventually face consequences. They could be as simple as hitting a plateau, or as serious as injury and having to backtrack.

In the beginning (of anything), our focus should be on learning. Learn the best practices for warm-ups, recovery, nutrition, injury prevention, and pacing. These things don’t just show up with time—they need attention and effort. It's the learning phase that allows us to gain the wisdom necessary to handle the challenges that will inevitably come our way when we increase volume or intensity.

Then Go Big

Once we start seeing positive signs - running begins feeling easier, we have a consistent routine, we know how to warm up, we know how to recover… then it’s time to do more.

This is true for most things (everything?) in life. We need to ensure that our fundamentals are strong and built with intention, because without them, all the extra mileage or harder training plans will backfire.

The process of learning how to train, how to listen to your body, how to fuel appropriately, and how to create a routine—these are the bricks that will hold everything together when we start pushing our limits.

Patience is Key

Patience is critical in this process. We all want quick results, but great things take time. The right approach is to take each step seriously and think about patience in early stages as an investment. It’s not about doing more now—it's about doing it right and consistently, so that when we finally do push harder, we're ready.

This is what ultimately keeps the passion alive. By focusing on building a sustainable routine from the start, we can avoid burning out and keep our motivation high. And by learning as we go—by mastering the fundamentals—we'll develop a deeper connection with the sport, and with your own growth.

Final Thoughts

Doing more is tempting, but it’s often the path to burnout. The real secret to lasting success is patience and consistency. Take the time to build the foundation, learn, and do things right. When the time comes to pour in the effort, we'll be ready.

And with this mindset, we can build a routine we love and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.