''Sometimes you gotta work hard for it''
Happy Monday, Carousellers 🎠
I’m on a train back to Devon. I love train journeys for work and writing…. I don’t know if it’s the protected time, the movement or the gorgeous views of fields on this route, but it always feels like a nice flow 🚂
Yesterday, I completed the Hackney Half! I’ve banged on about this in so many newsletters so I thought you’d all like an update. I felt so much support and love from friends and family who wished me luck and checked in, and I felt extra-special support from my friend Sophie, who was my training buddy. Here’s us pre-run (colour scheme not intentional):
I’m humbled by the simplicity and yet huge transformational power of setting myself a goal, showing up for the training and then feeling the results a few months later.
As I ran yesterday, in the scorching heat but with the crowd of Hackney singing and cheering, I felt strong. I knew my body could do it. At about mile 10 (when it got much tougher) ‘Gotta Work’ by Amerie blasted out my on my playlist and I just sobbed!
🎶 Sometimes you're gonna feel pain like this
Sometimes you gotta work hard for it
'Cause when you feeling low
And you can't get no lower
That's when you know you’re close
Sometimes you gotta work hard for it 🎶
Yes, I had worked hard for this! And, let’s be honest, a lot of the time, I’m a lazy Leo. I love a short-cut, a speedy turnaround and a quick fix. I learn quickly, so I can be impatient when things have to take a little longer (hence last week’s Substack being a flippin’ revelation!)
In my older (!) age I’m learning to take a bit more care, trust a process and see what happens if I really put my mind to something. I am mostly driven by the value of FUN, so to allow a bit of PAIN and STRENGTH into the mix has been an edge for me. But I actually had a lot of fun running. WHO KNEW.
If I had to distill the learnings from this experience into a nice little trio I would say:
Motivation is quadrupled by having an end ‘event’ which cannot be moved (a gig, a publishing date, a race day) so don’t just say ‘I want to write more’ or ‘I want to learn Spanish’ - have a day where you’re going to share your work, or travel to Costa Rica. Have it in the diary. The fear is a motivator!
Make sure you also love the gains you’ll get from the journey. I know it’s CLICHE af but the real win for me with this race was not the time I got on the day, it was the fact that I felt fitter and can now run much further (I felt so unfit before I started training and could barely run for 10 minutes). What will be the positive impact on your life by the mere fact that you’re working towards this goal? Will you be becoming a better writer? Getting good at making comedy video reels? Who are you becoming by doing this?
The power of accountability. Having a friend who was also training made all the difference. We messaged each other a whole spectrum of emotions from the pride of getting out for 15 minutes when we felt rough, to the frustration of a slightly slower 10km, to the joy of cake at the end of the first really long run. We kept encouraging each other and spurring each other on. Whatever you’re working on, FIND COMPANY. Whether that’s a group, an individual, a coach. My god… it makes all the difference.
Next week we will probably be back to non-running related content.
Or maybe this will become a running blog. 🤷🏻♀️
Things to listen to:
🎙 Part 2 of my conversation with Dr Jude Galea is out now on my Knowing When to Quit podcast and also on her show Dr Body Mind Soul. On this episode I’ll be coaching her live on her decision to finally leave the GMC register. It’s a big one!
🎧 You can listen to our final Breakfast Radio show of the season here. Another show packed with mega tunes; silly discussions about life, love and freelancing; a visit from Aussie healer Sarah Moany who gives her predictions about the Glasto weather; and our review of 6 months of radio broadcasting (with the gratitude and sincerity of a 25 year radio career!)
Until next time!
Sarah x