Stop Walking the Same Route All the Time
It’s surprisingly easy to get stuck in a rut. Take the same path two or three times when you start running or walking , and suddenly this path becomes an undeniable part of your workout. Or maybe you change your location, but always do the three-mile run at a “oh my god, I’m going to die” pace. Well, stop it.
Yes, yes, you have chosen this race for a reason. But let’s look at all the options. You can run long or short, morning or night, fast or slow, hills or plains, roads or trails. You can run at a steady pace, or you can mix speed with a set of intervals. You can run circles in a short loop or in a long circular loop. You can listen to fiery music, watch a podcast, or leave your headphones at home and just listen to your thoughts.
By choosing one of these options, you are missing out on everything else. There is nothing wrong with quickly driving three miles down the paved path in the park at 7:00 pm while you listen to the radio lab and stop at exactly two fountains. But it’s your responsibility to figure out what happens if you change one factor — perhaps run at a slower pace. In this case, you can end your run feeling better and not be scared the next time.
If you’re still struggling to get out the door, getting to know someone can help you feel comfortable. If this is the case, consider acquaintance as a learning tool and abandon it as soon as it stops helping you.
Because in the end you will find that you will become a better runner if you allow yourself to run fast and slow, long and short, sometimes distracting yourself with music and sometimes paying close attention to your environment and your level of effort.
So, your assignment this week is to change something. What do you always do that you forgot to ask a question? Find out what happens if you change it.