It’s Time to Lead

When you start running ultras, or move up to a new distance, it’s easy to believe everyone knows more than you.

So the safest strategy seems like copying what everyone else is doing.

Same navigation, same time in aid stations, and most importantly, the same pace.

When I started running ultras, I trained every weekend with a group of friends. Kerry was our unofficial leader. He’d started running ultras a year or so before the rest of us.

He knew more.

Every Saturday, our group ran together on a wide gravel road. Since it was double track, no one really “led,” but Kerry was usually one of the two in front.

The rest of us fell in behind him and whoever was running alongside him at the moment.

I got used to following his heels.

In races, we naturally lined up at the start together and ran a lot of the race together.

So I followed his heels in races too.

It became such a habit that even in a single track conga line, I’d still position myself on his heels - as close to the front as I could (to not get blocked), without getting out of my safe zone behind him (effectively blocking myself).

It eventually dawned on me I was using him…as a pacer.

If I followed him, I didn’t have to decide how fast to go. Even though I could go faster…which I sometimes did near the end when I knew the finish was in the bag.

I started feeling guilty about always following him. I should be able to do this on my own. And after following him in so many races, I was probably annoying him.

But I was more scared than guilty. Scared I’d do it wrong, go too fast and leave him (even though we didn’t plan to run together), or too slow and hold him and everyone else up…and then not be able to hold the pace so they’d all have to pass me.

He was better at it. I wasn’t a leader like he was. I’d get off his heels next race. Or the next.

Finally, at one muddy Mt. Mist 50k, running safely on Kerry’s heels as usual ahead of a conga line, the moment came. I had enough of my excuses. I told Kerry I was passing.

I led.

“On stage,” with the runners behind us watching and judging.

AND I DIDN’T DIE.

I decided if I got the pace wrong, I’d rather be too fast. So I relaxed some and drifted ahead. Eventually, I drifted so far that Kerry was out of sight behind me.

And the pace still felt good, so I pushed harder and it felt satisfying. And fun.

All this time…I’d run the miles but hadn’t made the decisions about pace, navigation, when to walk, or when to run.

I hadn’t been running my race - I’d been running Kerry’s.

I’d been so worried I’d do it wrong, I hadn’t given myself a chance.

Following Kerry’s heels kept me safe from mistakes but didn’t feel half as good as running my own race.

That’s when I gave up following someone else to become the runner I knew I could be.

I’d never be where I am today if I was still following others. I had to start leading my own way.

We all have that idea in our minds of the runner we want to be.

Confident, sure, capable…

Whatever that image is for you, you can become her.

If you’re interested in doing that, with a healthy dose of race and mindset skills, I’m all in to help.

Use this link to schedule a consult call.

You know there’s more in you. It’s time.