The Secret to Success

Toshihiko Seko, a 2:08 marathoner and Boston and Fukuoka champion, was coached by the late Kiyoshi Nakamura.

Nakamura compared a distance runner’s development to a steady fall of raindrops slowly forging a hole in a large rock over a period of many years. On some days, the rain falls hard, on others it falls gently, and some days it doesn’t fall at all.

The process cannot be rushed. We must wait patiently for the natural order of events to run its course before we can admire the finished product.

Too many runners are in search of “magic” workouts. They want to see instant results. Daily proof of their progress. But progress is messy. It zigs and it zags. You nail a workout at 5K pace and the next 3 days can barley run faster than a crawl.

Here’s the secret to success: To be a consistent winner means preparing not just one day, one month, or even one year — but for a lifetime.

You must love running and all that comes with it: the good days, bad days, days off, days when everything feels easy, days when every step is a struggle, races when you PR big, races that feel like a step backward. Running is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

By taking the long term approach progress will often come more slowly. But your progress will be more complete and, like falling raindrops sustained over time, lead to big results.

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Thx for reading. | jm