It’s the Increments, Stupid
Yesterday was “hill day.” That’s my 6-6.5 mile early morning run which includes a mile or so of various quad-challenging inclines. Hill day, along with my weekly track session and long weekend run, form the backbone of what I hope will be a run-up to another marathon in December.
Usually, I’m pretty winded by the time I reach the top of the hills and have been in the habit of walking a few meters in recovery. But yesterday, as I topped each peak, there was no need to stop and catch my breath. Like Forrest Gump, I just kept right on running.
It was rewarding and encouraging to experience this small improvement in performance. It also occurred to me that at times we’re oblivious to tiny increments like that, focused as we often are on “the big picture.” But big gains are birthed in such small steps; day-by-day, inch-by-inch, yard-by-yard, mile-by-mile.
Of course, running is merely an analogy, a shadow of larger, more important things. There are many who are climbing steeper and more challenging hills than the 15% grade at the top of Forrest Heights Drive. But the principles are the same: sustained daily effort, small steps leading to larger ones, shoulders back and eyes up–lift those knees high.
And just when you least expect it, you find yourself cresting that difficult hill and running on toward daylight.
This is what I tell myself these days: It’s the increments, stupid.
8 Comments
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Brady
Agreed. But my problem is when I screw up the increments, be they yards or meters. I’ll tell you about it another time…
Alan Gable
Nice. I had an investments professor that always said the real money is made in the margins. I like what you said “big gains are birthed in such small steps”. Good stuff.
Jeff Slater
Great analogy — I thought about the ways in which it applies to my life this morning as I ran 3 miles.
I’m going to have to start adding hills and speed work to my weekly workout. Thanks for reminding me. 🙁
Mike the Eyeguy
Brady–Can’t wait to hear your tale of the road. And even more so, about your experience running the Bourdeaux Marathon. Are you still thinking you may do that one?
Alan–Thanks, glad that one rung a bell.
Jeff–As you know from past experience, eventually you gotta suffer a little with some speed and hills to get the improvement most people want. But really, you don’t necessarily have to go to the track at first. Just do a sustained pick-up about 3/4 of the way through your normal run and finish strong and that’s enough for a start.
Stoogelover
On my way to work this morning, I saw a guy really struggling to run up a hill (and this is in the desert of southern California). I mentioned to my wife that I’m not sure I could even walk up that hill. So I’m impressed!!
Mike the Eyeguy
As I learned in the middle of my most recent 10K, if the hill is extremely steep, it’s better to walk it and save some leg for later.
Carolinagirl
No stop at the Church for a cool drink of water?
Mike the Eyeguy
Hey, I learned my lesson last time! 🙂