Your best and what that means

This morning was scheduled as a Marathon Paced run, which means that, after a warm-up period, I would run the bulk of my run at my MP. The thing is that on any given day it takes a different effort level to achieve MP. If the effort for the day is lower than expected than I may exceed expectations, but when it falls into this AM's category, expectations are not met if time is the only factor. So, several years ago I adopted the effort based training approach that is Heart Rate training. This AM as I climbed a long gradual hill in the warm, humid and allergen laden air, my HR climbed well above what I allow for my marathon effort run. I slowed down and had to accept the slower pace for the HR. The quality of the effort was the goal, and the sustained effort at an acceptable HR made it a success. The point is that there are multiple factors that determine success in any endeavor, and recognizing them all is key. You can only be your best on any given day, and you can't always predetermine what that means.

That said, there is a fine line between actual limitations and perceived limitations. The mind is powerful enough to ruin a run if you let it convince you that you just can't do it today; conversely, it can get you in trouble if you power through a situation that really requires you to back off.

Our best is subjective, and unless we have a way to measure it like a per-mile pace then how do we know if we have achieved it? Mostly we try and fail, try again while trying not to fail and try to not fail-to-try. It's a process that doesn't seem to have defined boundaries; some people start "going for it" at a young age, and we all have room to improve until we are no more. So, the worst thing you can do is not try to be your best at something, and if you're not failing then you probably are not understanding what your best could be.

There are always sacrifices involved with achieving goals and they are what trip most of us up...no advice there except "just get it done." In the long run, the power you gain as you overcome your mind's limitations provides a great deal of satisfaction.

Run, always run.