How Running Goals Helped Shape My Business Goals

When I started running, I knew I had to have a purpose behind it.

I’m not one to exercise for good health. Of course, it’s good for your health, but that’s boring.

“Exercise because you should.”

Nah, I need more.

So I made a decision to start running again with an unattainable goal in mind: run a half marathon by December.

Let me explain the current state me: I was limited in running because of back pain. Bodyweight strength training, yoga, and walking were the only exercises I was doing and I was bored. Nothing was challenging me or pushing me to my limit.

One day I decided to stop saying I couldn’t do something because everyone else said I couldn’t or shouldn’t and decided to research how I can be the runner I want to be.

Usually, I’d download an app (Couch to 5K) and follow the plan. However, I knew I needed to be careful to not jump back into it. Plus I wanted more for my body.

I spent a month researching what runners do and I was shocked that running all the time was not part of the plan. There’s cross-training, yoga, weight-training, rest.

REST makes you a better runner? But if you’re not running are you even a runner?

Also, the goal for training for longer runs such as half marathons is to focus on speed intervals for short periods of time and slower speeds for long run days.

So I planned and started executing.

With the help of the Nike Running Club app, I scheduled my workouts accordingly. Even if running during the beginning of summer wasn’t the best idea, I started anyway.

And now I’m 18 weeks into the program, running faster and longer than before.

All because I changed my mindset about being able to do the impossible.

“Clarissa, this is a great Hallmark moment, but what does this have to do with you building your brand?”

One day I set my goal to run 3 miles under 40 minutes–something I haven’t done in over 6 months.

But that day, I was going to run those 3 miles under 40 minutes and there was nothing you could do about it.

And you know what? I did it. I ran 3.17 miles in 39:27 minutes, all because I told myself I would.

I realized if I can do that why can’t I do anything else? Why can’t I work with that caliber of people or pitch to that company? What’s stopping me?

If I have a goal of working with a certain about of brands in a certain amount of time, staying where I am isn’t going to get me there.

Being stuck and scared only holds you back.

Here’s what you do:

Find something not related to your business that you can train for and get better at. Let it be measurable, let it be healthy.

Then research. How do you get to that point? What have others done that you haven’t

Pick a realistic timeline to achieve your goal.

There’s no way I was going to run 13.1 miles the day I started, but I could build up to it over a course of time.

Practice consistency.

My app has me running 2-3 days a week. When I’m not running I do an overall strength workout, the elliptical, and yoga. Sundays are dedicated to yoga/resting. I’ve kept this up for 5 months now, which is a praise report in and of itself considering it’s been 100+ outside (I run early morning or late evening on those days).

In your business, set goals, then assign days that will help you achieve those goals.

Work. It’ll be hard as hell. There will be times you don’t want to do it. It’s scary to do it. “Are you kidding me?” will come to mind. Do it anyway.

Don’t give up.

Let me tell you what running in 90 degrees/50 percent humidity will do to you. Make you want to turn all the way around and go home.

You will have days of 90 degrees with 50 percent humidity, but remember it’s preparing you for those fall days where it’ll be nice, cool, and enjoyable. You’ll also be reminded in the winter how you can tackle those cold days if you can tackle the really hot days.

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Challenging yourself in multiple areas of your life can benefit all areas of your life. When you feel like you’re failing in one area, look at the other areas where you’re succeeding and figure out how. “Oh, you beat the mile? How? By being consistent with training? Well, what if you got better at calligraphy by being consistent in your practice?”

I started running so I could push myself to be uncomfortable and challenge myself. When I look back at why I started FIVE12 STUDIO, it’s the same reason as to why I started to run–to be uncomfortable and challenge myself.