New Year’s Message

I’ve been talking to a talented runner where I live in San Diego for over a year about working with me as her coach. She waffles back and forth about going through with it. Part of all her waffling is financial; she can’t afford it. But even when I have offered to coach her pro bono because she’s got so much potential, she still waffles. She told me today that she’s afraid of failure.

Many of us stop short of pursuing our dreams or following through with something because we’re afraid of failing. With greater success comes greater expectations, and then what if we’re not good enough to meet those expectations? It’s become too easy in our society to be complacent and maintain the status quo.

As we inch toward the end of another year, my thoughts have turned to the process of accomplishment. I’ve always been drawn to people with talent, but even more so to people who are willing to completely throw themselves into something and do whatever it takes to accomplish what they want to accomplish, however real the risk of failure may be.

Sometimes, I just want to leave everything and everyone behind and go be by myself, in some remote place, with no distraction or temptation, and completely and wholeheartedly throw myself into an endeavor, without reservation or guilt or fear of failure. Do you ever want to do that yourself? Do you ever wonder what the results might be if you did? I’ve thought about going to hide out somewhere, in the middle of the woods, and do nothing other than write and run. 10,000 words and 100 miles a week…

So let’s make a promise to each other. You and me. As we transition into this new year, let’s take a few risks. And let’s gain strength and momentum from our running to help us see those risks through. When you walk out your door each day to run, or whatever form of exercise you do, remind yourself who you want to be and what you want to accomplish and use each run and each workout to help you be that person and accomplish those things.

If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.

If what you want to accomplish in 2014 includes a running goal, I’m here to help you. I’m offering half off an entire year’s worth of Run-Fit coaching if you register by midnight on January 1, 2014. How badly do you want to meet your running goal?

http://www.run-fit.com/runfitcoaching

May 2014 bring you memorable runs, higher levels of fitness, the courage to throw yourself into something, and the chance to become the runner and the person you want to be. Happy New Year!

Coach Jason