First, Run Well
Stewart Togher, famed Scottish throws coach who had a storied 15-year tenure at University of Oregon from 1983 to 1997, died at age 80.
He was a coaches' coach, who knew his craft inside and out, coupling his sharp technical acumen with sage insight.
In an article from TrackTown USA memorializing Togher, his star pupil, American hammer thrower Lane Deal fondly recalled Togher’s reaction the first time he threw over 80 meters, a long-stated goal and a measuring stick of world-class talent. It was a piece of wisdom Lance never forgot:
“After I threw 80 meters for the first time, (Stewart) told me, ‘OK, now it’s time to throw well. Stop worrying about throwing far, now throw well’.”
My reaction when reading this was one word — YES!
Togher reminds us of what really matters: instead of worrying about the prize, concern yourself with the process. He wisely knew this was the quickest path to the top.
For runners, the takeaway is simple but profound — if you concern yourself with running as well as you can, the results on race day won't disappoint.
We can control our effort given and the degree of proficiency which we execute, but out of our control is what the clock will say on race day (despite what we'd like to think). In this context, the time doesn't matter. It distracts rather than aids.
Time and place are measures, but not the only measures to base our judgement upon.
Like Togher, I invest more stock in the quality and integrity of an athlete's competitive effort relative to them, not the field. Ironically, by choosing to stop worrying about running "fast" (whatever that means) and instead run well, a favorable result will more likely happen. It seems counterintuitive, and it is, but so are many truths regarding effective conduct.
I stopped doing goal setting sessions with athletes years ago. They are well-intending activities, but I think fruitless. For an athlete to decide out of the blue that this year "I want to win a championship title", or "break 4 minutes in the mile," or "run sub-70 for the half marathon" etc. is automatically setting one up for failure and frustration. Success doesn't work like that. The most successful athletes I've worked with are most concerned about racing to the maximum of their personal capacity. That is what counts. That is the secret to winning and sustained winning.
So instead of worrying if reps are fast enough in practice or if enough miles are being logged each week, elect a new narrative, one where the sole concern is about running as well as you possibly can on a day-by-day basis.
Practice running well every day. On the long run. During a workout. Warm-up. Cool down. Even on the AM shakeout jog. Run well over and over and over again. Make it permanent. So that by race day, running well becomes racing well.