7 years ago I went for my first super short run, maybe 10 minutes, Sunday I finished my first 10k championship.
It took me 7 long years to get from very out-of-shape beginnings to being able to finish a full 10k run. I’d like to share a few of my personal takeaways and how they apply to my Salesforce career.
1. Don’t overcomplicate things, just go running
2. It’s ok to be slow
3. It gets easier but it’s never easy
4. You are never too old to get started
5. It’s more fun with friends
Don’t overcomplicate things, just go running
It’s so easy to overcomplicate running, there are a million blogs, gadgets, shoes, technics, and more available.
What shoes? What pulse? what training plan? Every day? Before breakfast?…
In the beginning, I tried to follow all the tips and recommendations to the point of being paralyzed. Instead of running, I was reading blogs about running. A friend told me: “As long as you keep on running you are getting faster.” The less I think about it and just go running, the more progress I made. There’s nothing like a wrong run.
IMPORTANT: I never run when something hurts or I’m sick. Healthy first.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying the tips can’t help or should be completely ignored, but reading about running can never replace actual running.
Salesforce takeaway: Sometimes I have “optimization paralysis” when studying or building something. I should go with the flow and build something instead of endlessly trying to optimize it.
It’s ok to be slow
I’m really, really slow at running and will never be any fast. I’m still better than I’d be without exercising. The benefit of health and happiness come no matter how fast or slow I am.
Salesforce takeaway: I should not compare myself with others but be ok the way I am. As long as I better myself and my Org we all win.
It gets easier but it’s never easy
Once I found a way of exercising that worked for me, it got way easier. Especially the “getting started” part got way easier.
But I still have to push myself every single time. There’s always a great excuse to not go running.
Salesforce takeaway: While it gets easier with knowledge and experience, it always will be a challenge to motivate me to improve myself.
You are never too old to get started
I was in my early 30s when I got started with running, some people get started in their 60s or 70s. It’s never too late to get started. Sure, I’ll never be a pro-marathon runner, but I still can try 😉
Salesforce takeaway: I’m never too old and it’s never too late for me to start learning something new.
It’s more fun with friends
I started running alone and to this day enjoy me-time while running alone, but over the years, I got used to running with friends and recently even in large groups. It took some getting used to but was worth the effort.
Salesforce takeaway: I should never underestimate the fun and motivation of doing something with friends.
PS: I made place 979
