For 2010, one of my new year’s resolutions is to run a marathon. Since buying my first pair of ‘proper’ running shoes last year, I’ve managed to make it through a 10k (much to my team mates’ surprise) and aiming for a half marathon in April, with a full marathon (in Loch Ness) at the start of Oct.
While I’ve been learning to master the art of running long distances, I’ve accidentally found a treasure trove of inspirational and insightful stories about the unlikeliest of runners becoming runners. First, there was “What I talk about when I talk about running” by Haruki Murakami (of Kafka on the Shore), then “The Courage to Start“, by fellow trombonist, John Bingham, and recently, I’ve been following “The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer“.
This week, one trainee-runner’s account seemed particularly poignant:
It took me a couple of weeks to realize that I was not going to be 31 years old and out of shape and go out there and train for a marathon and be competitive. That was hard for me because I have always been competitive; liked challenge. The first two Saturday morning runs I ran too fast and was in bad shape by the end. I couldn’t figure it out; the runs weren’t even that long and I felt like I was going to die. After listenting to Dave and Forrest [the course instructors] I realized I was probably going at a pace that was too fast for me. So I slowed down, forced myself to stop seeing it as a competition, and just tried to focus on enjoying myself … Once I made these changes I started to really enjoy the whole process.
It struck me that this statement could be akin to starting your own business – especially in reference to the work-life balance.
Entrepreneurs tend to be competitive and each business is a challenge. Ultimately, everyone wants to get ahead. This is understandable since we’re constantly told that few startups survive. The statistics are against us. We need to move quickly, react and keep moving. Driven by the sense of urgency, we want to go fast, often working long hours and little time for R&R.
However, at the same time, doing too much too fast can risk burnout. The long hours, weekends, and the constant merry-go-round of networking events can be extremely draining. At some point, you will just stop enjoying working in a startup, stop wanting to get out of bed in the mornings, and find excuses not to be doing the hard stuff.
It’s a hard balance. How do you find the right pace between moving the venture forward, at a pace where you can enjoy the ride?
Drawing from my (limited) running knowledge and the above quote, I guess the answer could come in two parts.
The first is experience. Looking back, when I started running I simply ran as fast as I could. There was no other pace. There was simply on and off. Over time, I began to relax and found that I could go slightly faster and sometimes, slightly slower. The gap between the two was little at first, but then, it grew and it grew. Now I find that I can vary the pace fairly easily. I’m guessing that working out the right work-life balance in startup life will be similar. I just hope it would come quicker, easier and with less growing pains.
The second is attitude. For me, the aim for the first marathon is simply to finish rather than beating the world record. Maybe that can be translated across to entrepreneurship, where the focus is on building a company, rather than building the next Google in the first go. Dreaming big is good, but just don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get it the first time. So, part of the process is to figure out what you want out of this experience, what sort of company you want to build, and what will result in a situation where you will “enjoy” yourself or your successes? The focus isn’t to say that you shouldn’t aim to build a big company, but rather, it’s ok if it takes you 2 or 3 attempts to get there.
It’s certainly food for thought …
Finally, I can’t leave without pointing you to other people in the startup community that are running too. You should check out Jennie Lees’ post on running; Hilary Singer’s running counter on her blog (I’m still waiting for the kayaking counter to go up), and finally, Rachel Lane is running lots to raise money for breast cancer charities. In fact, if you’re feeling generous, feel free to sponsor her for her efforts.
I would completely agree with you Kate. I have seen people who start running after a long gap, I realized that they land up running too quickly in the beginning, slow down soon after and pick up pace as soon as they would see somebody running past them only to slow down a little later.
Its quite common to see that the same habit being carried over else where. Ofcourse I am equally guilty of it at some point in my life but I know better now 🙂
Ofcourse, I have also traded by running shoes for a bicycle but the rule still applies 😉
Great article Kate.
Thanks Kate and thought-provoking article! Cheers for the link. 🙂
Regarding marathon training, this is my first formal training approach and though I confess I do find running a little boring – I am trying to mix it up with hill running and cycling to vary the tedium and work different muscles.
Re work/life balance… I admit I have the work…. and the life, but balance…hmm, not yet. Friends help a lot and fortunately I’m surrounded by lots of straight-talking people who tell me when I’m worrying too much about things. Also have lots of friends in different social circles, so there’s always an alternative perspective on offer when work gets me down.
Maybe that’s one thing that should be emphasised in all of this … don’t neglect your friends when times get tough, because they’re the ones that really get you through the marathon… whether’s it’s a physical or mental challenge.
I am so Dawson’s Creek.
Grishma – I think what you’re saying is very insightful – that we never just simply run at one pace, but rather, faster and slower at times. Especially in a race, when you have so many people to run with, you can find someone around the same speed and buddy up with them. Maybe the same is in entrepreneurship too! 🙂
Rach – Yes, I agree that the work-life balance is a hard one to strike (what on earth is it anyway?) I’m just hoping that as things go on, it would be easier to manage when working in startup land.
Of course, this is not to mention that some of us are addicted to stretching ourselves – a byproduct of which is stress – let’s be honest, we would never be content with sitting in front of the tv all night or simply having a shelf-stacking job. Right?
On a running-centric note, I started running using the “Couch to 5k” plan. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
If you’ve never run, it is fabulous. Just do what it says, and you will be running 5k after two months.
If only it were that easy to get from an idea to profits.
Thanks for linking back to me Kate! And best of luck with it. I’m hopefully going to be running the New York Marathon later this year to raise money for Macmillan. (San Francisco half first, though!)
I just wanted to add a recommendation for anyone in the Edinburgh area who wants to run, or thinks maybe it’s something they could do, but is a bit intimidated by the thought of just grabbing some shoes and.. running! (Or, like me, you have horrible memories of high school P.E., being out of breath after half a minute into the playing field laps)
Caroline at the Edinburgh Running School (http://edinburghrunningschool.co.uk/) runs a great “introduction to running” course for complete beginners. In fact the first session of a new course starts today at the Meadows, convenient for Appleton! I can’t sing her praises highly enough, I never thought I would see myself running for 20 minutes straight without stopping, but after starting with her last September I did exactly that eight weeks later… and then ran a 5K in December, becoming hooked on it all. I never did get to go to the improvers course because Mondays didn’t suit me, but having a group to run with is highly recommended especially if you’re starting out. Go for it!