Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024 – Passion and acceptance

Hi All!

Looks like winter has finally arrived. Good news for people who like to do things on snow – not as easy a time for people who run outside. We’ve been here before and know how to do this. Dress warm, slow down where you have to, and keep getting out.

This idea sort of segues into a conversation I had with a friend recently where we were talking about accepting the slowing down of race times as we age, but maintaining the fire and drive to do our best just the same. It’s a specific harmony we need to reach: acceptance PLUS drive. This is a fine balance.

When I look at the energy and passion of young people, I see a lot of drive, and not much acceptance. Or maybe the word I am looking for is equanimity. Equanimity is defined as “mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. Accepting the good and the bad with the same response”. I have mentioned that I am coaching young people at a university now. In observing them it has occurred to me that this is a stage in life which does not embrace equanimity. I’ve witnessed tears (so many tears), shouts of anger, whoops of joy – all associated with race or workout results. I can remember this phase of life – you care SO much about results. You are carving out your self-identity and learning and showing others about who you are. It feels like high stakes. There is very little acceptance.

I think as we age, experience just smooths out some of those sharp emotions. We have learned, hopefully, that our single results don’t really matter in the long game, and that we no longer even think about experiences which once drove us to such distress. But then the question I have asked myself is this: can we still maintain the fire and drive, notwithstanding acceptance and equanimity? I don’t actually have the answer here. I do think it raises a good question about masters athletes and the performance curve. Of course there is a physical component to it, but I think a lot of it also represents a certain mental peace we’ve found. Most of us are not approaching this with the high stakes we may have once felt in our 20’s. I think that’s ok. I draw the parallel to social and political causes we care about. We have to work to find the place where we care and can engage and make a difference, without torturing and burning ourselves up in the process. That’s not easy. Accept without checking out. Accept and keep working and caring and trying. I’m going to keep trying to find that balance – in running and in life.

Tomorrow we’re back to hills! Boston, Around The Bay and NYC Half people need these for race specificity. The rest of us need them for good ol’ strength and fitness.

Let’s do Pottery – I like the mix of full and half. That’s a 400m and 200m hill for those in the Beach. More emphasis on the fulls for effort. That might mean equal number or a few more fulls. So like 6 or 7 and 4. Start where you left off last time. I will aim to be there around 6:15. Just roll into them when you get there.

That is all – see you in the am!

Seanna