On Sunday I tried to run two rounds around Princes Park. I failed miserably.

I had managed to do it the week before, but I knew in my mind before I even step foot on the park trail that I was doomed to fail. It really is about self belief, knowing that you can do something and setting your mind to it. I had already mentally pictured being able to do one round and I did manage that without too much effort but just started balking on the second round. I only managed short spurts before slowing to a stroll in the last third of the round. Jerome on the other hand, ran three rounds without stopping. Heh, his joints started to ache and he was short of breath towards the end, even having stitches in his gut, but he persevered and ran all the way.

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What makes us able to achieve something? Having a goal in mind, and knowing that we can push ourselves to achieve it. I know my legs can carry me 2 rounds without question. My heart and lungs might not be able to keep up, but they can be bent to push my body through. I have done it before, and I know I can do it. By now you can realise that a lot of it has to do with mental strength, as while bodies differ in shapes and sizes, if you keep your rhythm, you can push yourself through any hurdle.

* * *

I have lost my rhythm over the last two weeks. A little off momentum, that I can’t seem to work as efficiently as I know I can. Perhaps it was pushing too hard, going for goals I wasn’t comfortable with, in achieving the amount of things I wanted to do and doing so with the bare minimum amount of rest. Heh, the body can’t really be coaxed to work more than it can sustain. You could try, but sooner or later fatigue will catch up with you. It’s just like trying to run two rounds, and there’s no cheating your body by running faster so that you can reach your destination sooner. Your body will burn out and instead of reaching earlier you end up losing momentum and arrive much later than expected.

So I must emphasise again, keeping rhythm and having a feasible goal will keep you motivated to do something. Trying too hard and your body gives in, and not trying hard enough, your body will slack off and you will feel sluggish, even if you were capable of doing it to begin with. The negative thoughts will just impede your progress.

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Heh, maybe it’s a technical way to analyse how we achieve the things we do, but not being afraid to push ourselves through, while maintaining a steady rate, allows us to achieve almost anything. So the next run I go on, I will do the two rounds without stopping, cause once you do, the fatigue sets in and no amount of cajoling will get you moving again.