My mind often leads me astray. So much so that what I consider to be true one day, the next might find me questioning it.
One thing I’m certain of is that the world is unpredictable, and I must strive daily to develop a safe haven of certainty. I do so by creating habits and routines, not because I want to exert control, but so I can become who I want to be.
As Aristotle once implied, ‘we are what we repeatedly do,’ meaning that while the world may be unpredictable, our behavior is not. We can, through the power of habit, shape the person we become.
One way I achieve this is through running, the habit of running. Heading into 2023, I set some running goals. I knew that in order to be successful, I would need to establish a running routine.
My goals:
- Run 4,000 miles.
- Climb 1,000,000 feet.
- Complete 5 100-mile races.
- Achieve 10 Fastest Known Times (FKTs).
After my run on Saturday, I am over 3,000 miles for the year. I am a bit behind pace with just over 663,000 feet of climbing. In just a couple of weeks, I’ll complete my 4th 100-mile race, the Grindstone 100. I’m running behind on FKTs.
Although I’m slightly behind on climbing and FKTs, I do have a plan this fall to get caught back up. Much of my running this year has been in the mountains, many of the miles I’ve spent alone, enduring the forces that fate has in store.
Despite the unpredictable nature of the world and even our goals, we can, through the power of creating habits, become the person we desire to be.
Create habits. Just don’t get too attached them.
Onward to 4,000 miles and 1,000,000 feet of climbing.