Logan Howard

Why am I working so hard at running?

Here’s one reason:

I want to prove to myself that I can do it.

Running wasn’t popular where I grew up.

I wasn’t raised a runner.

I didn’t know what cross country and track were until it was too late.

I only ran one year of cross country in high school.

I never ran track.

I didn’t run in college.

At one point in my life I was 50 pounds heavier than I am today.

I didn’t have a typical runner body.

I didn’t start taking running seriously until I was 32.

I want to prove it doesn’t matter where you came from.

I want to prove it doesn’t matter when you start.

I want to prove a washed-up athlete can compete at a high level.

I want to prove anybody can do anything they put their mind to.

I want to prove anybody can do anything if they commit to it, practice it, and work hard at it.

If I can do this, I can do anything.

If I can do it, you can do it.

We can not only do this, we can do anything.

I do have something to prove.

I want to be the example and show others what’s possible when you dedicate your life to something.

Once I prove I can do this and succeed at this, I’m going to move on to the next thing and do it all over again.

I feel guilty for things I’ve done wrong.

I feel guilty for mistakes I’ve made.

I feel guilty for people I’ve upset, hurt, disappointed, and let down.

I feel guilty for my sins of commission and omission.

I have a conscience.

I feel better when it’s clean.

I try to keep it clean.

I always try to be good and do right, but I am human.

I’m not a big planner.

Why?

Because life happens.

Because things change.

Because life rarely goes according to plan.

We spend so much time making grand plans.

We spend so much time thinking weeks, months, and years into the future.

We spend so much time guessing and projecting.

We spend so much time trying to predict the future.

Few things go the way we originally plan.

Life doesn’t care about our plans.

Life has a way of throwing wrenches into our plans.

It’s important to think about the future.

It’s important to brainstorm ideas and get thoughts together.

Planning is more of a rough draft than a finished document.

I wouldn’t spend too much time making sure it’s all pretty.

I wouldn’t get too attached to it.

I’d write in pencil not in pen.

I’d be ready to update it and change it often.

Because change is inevitable.

So look at the big picture.

Get the big things and big points right.

Then make decisions real time.

I’m not going to waste my precious time creating a picture-perfect document with every little detail laid out that is just going to be thrown in the garbage.

I’m not anti planning.

I am anti wasting my precious time.

I am anti wasting my time on little things that don’t matter and that will change.

I am anti letting a document control my life.

Setbacks are a test of our hunger and will.

When we experience setbacks, we learn how serious we are about something and how bad we want it.

If we’re serious and hungry, the setback will fuel us to fight harder than ever.

Always better in all ways.

Always better at all things that are important to us in all ways.

That’s the aim.

Unfortunately that won’t always be the case.

But that’s always the aim.

That’s always something to strive for.

The aim is always progress, but we will fluctuate.

Sometimes we will regress.

Sometimes we will be setback.

Sometimes we will go backward.

But if we adopt that mindset we will get better over time.

Always better in all ways.

The thing we’re currently doing is the most important thing.

The current thing is the most important thing.

Not the last thing. Not the next thing. The current thing.

Not the thing we did yesterday. Not the thing we have to do tomorrow. The thing we have to do today.

Not the thing we did this morning. Not the thing we have to do later. The thing we’re doing right now.

Not the thing behind us. Not the thing down the road. The thing right in front of us.

We live in the past. We live in the future.

We’re often distracted. We’re rarely present.

Give the thing we’re currently doing our undivided attention.

Focus on the thing we’re doing right now.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t contribute to the world.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t do enough for people and society.

We feel we have to go to great lengths to make a difference.

Sometimes striking up a conversation with a lonely neighbor is all it takes to makes a difference.

To us it may seem so small, minor, and insignificant but to them it means the world.

I may not invent the next iPhone.

I may not invent the next Tesla and send people on rockets to outer space.

But I will talk to my lonely neighbor every damn time.

I will make my neighbors day.

And that means a lot to that one person.

When you lose a loved one to suicide, you quickly learn how important your health, happiness, peace, time, and relationships are.

Talk about a wake-up call.

That’s why I value those things so much.

That’s one good thing that came from my mom’s suicide.

I realized what’s important and what matters.

And most things don’t.

I have no time and energy for petty drama.

I have a life to live.

When making a reservation for a flight and room, some airlines and hotels give you the option to select whether your trip is for business or pleasure.

When I travel for a race, it’s not for fun.

It’s strictly business.

When I’m given the option, whether I physically select it or not, I know in my mind I’m going on a business trip.

I’m on a mission and have business to tend to and take care of.

Have you ever tried deeply concentrating for two and a half hours without a break?

It’s hard.

Have you ever tried deeply concentrating while running as fast as you can for 26.2 miles in the same amount of time without a break?

It’s hard.

It’s hard focusing when we’re tired.

It’s hard to stay alert and pay attention for long periods of time.

It’s mentally depleting.

It takes a lot of mental energy.

The more tired we get the harder it gets.

The more tired we get the more we have to exert ourselves.

It requires more energy and effort as we go.

When it comes to marathon running, endurance sports, and other physical activities, we often talk about the physical side.

We don’t talk nearly enough about the mental side.

The ability to focus and concentrate when tired is a skill.

It’s a teachable skill.

It can be trained and developed.

We have to practice it.

We need to build mental endurance and strength just as much as physical.

Don’t forget to train the mind.

It’s also important.

So the next time you’re at the end of that workout or long run, really pay attention and focus on what you’re doing.