What does the ‘perfect’ runner look like? I hear this question being discussed every so often in magazines, online forums or occasionally over coffee after our Saturday morning 5km parkrun. Particularly if you are relatively new to running, you might be interested and might even be in awe of those runners who seem to have the perfect build, legs, speed,or effortless look to them as they glide around the track or along the bike path. It all adds to the slight insecurities we might have about not being a ‘real runner.’
This thought process frustrates me. Put simply… I believe that if you run, you are a runner, you are absolutely entitled to think of yourself as one. You might not be perfect, but you can certainly make progress as a runner, no matter what your shape, times, distances, preferences or anything else.
Now that my mini-rant is out of the way, lets get to the root of the problem... the word ‘perfect.' We are led to believe there is a perfect look that we should all be aspiring to, in order to become the perfect runner. Yeah sure, the guys and girls who are on the podium of most marathons are usually pretty much the same shape (skinny, lean, run effortlessly and weigh about 50kgs) but who is to say that they are perfect? I guarantee that they are all working hard on improving their imperfections, just as Daniela Ryf wants to improve her Ironman times or Roger Federer his backhand.
I see so many runners undermining themselves and their progress by comparing to supposedly perfect runners but, what do we even think a ‘perfect' runner looks like?
strong?
make it look easy?
light on their feet?
lean?
long stride?
relaxed?
skinny?
effortless?
defined muscles?
in control?
At the moment, I am reading Ray Dalio’s book ‘Principles’ and a couple of points really stood out and got me thinking on this topic. Firstly, he asserts that “perfection doesn’t exist” and secondly, that"evolution is the only thing that is permanent and it drives everything.”
Even supposedly perfect runners, Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebrselassie, who will tick most of these boxes and who will be looked back on as the worlds best, will eventually be surpassed. They and others will evolve, make improvements on their strength, stride, footwear, recovery, weight and other elements, finding a more effective way of doing what they do so well. Just remember its not that long ago that we thought even a perfect run would still not achieve a sub 4 minute mile, it was physically impossible…
For most of us mere mortals, whilst the 4 minute mile and the 2 hour marathon will remain beyond us, thinking that those who eventually achieve them are perfect, or that we can be perfect, does us no favours. However, if we accept that perfection doesn’t exist and the aim is to keep evolving or making progress, then the amount of learning that we are potentially open to is endless. What an exciting thought!
ARE YOU A FIRST TIME MARATHONER?? We are now taking on new runners and are beginning a 16 week Training Program leading into Great Ocean Marathon in May. This training program is ideal for first time marathoners and begins on Monday January 27th 2020. You can find out more here.