Active Enjoyment

This 4-minute read is written through the lens of my own coaching reflections, because I believe it can prime you, the reader, into gaining an insight of behind the scenes, and getting ahead of the game. 

As a coach, you get a variety of people wanting your help to improve performance. I coach running, and runners want to be able to run faster than they have done before. A huge consideration for me as a coach, which is rarely on runners’ radars, is enjoyment. 

Typically, enjoyment is taken for granted. 

I recall reading about elite ultra-runners who had to transition from being recreational runners to elite performers. They spoke about losing enjoyment in training. It often changes from going for a run, into structured, focused workouts. This key component deserves consideration and care, in my opinion (n=1).  

To get people enrolled in change to enhance performance, as a coach, requires investing time in getting to know their motivations. What really drives them to run? Where do they want their performance to go? And where do they want their life to go? What excites them? What bores them? What creates a required stress? And what causes anxiety? 

The trick is harmonising the change you are creating with their deeper motivations. If someone is struggling, perhaps their current path isn't aligned with an exciting outcome for them, despite them telling you it is. As a coach, you dig deeper with curiosity. What do they really want? What would really be exciting to them? If it isn’t what they’re targeting now, what might it be? 

Speaking to a client, who ran a huge 10k PB, and just behind their target, she said “I aimed for sub 50 today, I didn't get it, but do you know what, I still see my progress and I've enjoyed all my training runs so it's worth it”. (**Proud coach moment**)

My own aim today was to “run the Lincoln 10k”. For a runner who is usually battling it out just behind the lead car aiming to “win the Lincoln 10k”, it’s an unusual outcome goal. To compete for the win was never the aim this year. The details for why aren’t relevant, but, I was more focused on the process of running ‘within myself’ rather than on that practised ‘red-line racing threshold’. 

Focusing on my own experiences as a runner and athlete: I love racing. I love competing with others, no matter the position of my physical ability. And, whilst the run was tough, I enjoyed my experience today, and was excited to race all week - rather than the usual excitement for the opportunity of ‘high performance’, but for the opportunity to take part how I intended to. 

I got everything I wanted out of today. As did many clients. A nice reminder that it is still possible even when your visible result is not what the uninformed spectator expects. However, we also had a few clients who did not enjoy their performances today! 

Of course, in many endeavours in life you need to struggle once in a while. You need to take yourself out of your comfort zone and many, many specific moments will be far from enjoyable.

However, if you’ve spent a while going through the motions, dragging yourself out for training, or spending late on a work project, stop. Stop and think. “What are my deep motivations? And is what I’m doing now harmonious with those?” 

Often, harmony can be found from making small tweaks. Sometimes, harmony is found after making difficult decisions. Mostly, harmony is found when we find and follow our passions.

Much Love,

Shane.