The Biggest Mistake of My Running Career
I made a lot of mistakes in my running career. Many many many mistakes.
But there’s one that sticks out.
And unfortunately, it’s one I made again and again.
What’s the mistake?
I prioritized the NOW.
I always felt like THIS season, THIS upcoming race - this was THE ONE. I had to be ready. I couldn’t go another year without that massive breakthrough. No way. The time was NOW.
This led to a lot of dumb decisions. Overtraining, training through injuries, ignoring the blaring sirens as my body wilted.
All of which cost me big in the long run.
Now, don’t get me wrong - I had big long-term goals.
I remember dreaming of breaking 4 minutes in the mile when I was still in high school. When I first stepped foot on my college campus, I wanted to win an NCAA title by the end of my career. I always wanted to be an Olympian.
So it’s not like I didn’t have big goals. I had BIG BIG goals.
But I didn’t think I had time.
I always had this anxiety that I’d be forgotten, that my window would close on me forever if I didn’t do something explosive here and now.
I’ll give you a quick example:
My junior year of college, I had plantar fasciitis over Christmas break. Didn’t run a step for about a month. As you know, that’ll totally derail your fitness and you need time to build things back up afterward.
Alas, I was an impatient young man.
I jumped right back into hard track workouts as soon as my foot could remotely withstand the beating. And a beating it was. Man, I can still remember the throbbing in my arch after those brutal sessions.
And guess what? The risk kinda sorta paid off!
That indoor track season, I broke 4 minutes in the mile for the first time, I won the ACC mile title, and I nabbed my first NCAA All-American honor.
Not bad, right?
Well, here’s the problem. I wasn’t just impatient.
I was greedy.
After that indoor track season, I should’ve taken a big step back. Rest, let the plantar fascia fully heal, and build a proper foundation for the summer that I had missed in the winter. Even if that meant redshirting the outdoor track season (NCAA athletes can skip a season and keep that eligibility for an extra year - you have 5 years to complete your 4 years of eligibility).
I bet you can guess what I did instead.
I went full throttle. I thought, if I could run 3:58 in the mile off THAT, what on earth could I do with proper training?
Bumped the mileage. Ramped up the intensity. The usual stuff you do when you’re full of hubris and think you can do no wrong.
Now here comes the reckoning.
By May, I was fried. I felt (and looked) flat in races. Didn’t have that same pop that I usually had. I didn’t even make the final at the NCAA Outdoor Track championships in the 1500 meters. I’ll never forget watching the final - seeing guys I *knew* I could beat finish in the top 5.
(That race was won by a certain future Olympic Gold Medalist by the name of Matthew Centrowitz)
It took a long time to right that ship. And of course it only pushed my big goals further out of reach.
I prioritized the NOW.
Now - how can you learn from my mistakes? How can you avoid getting too caught up in the now?
First - actually sit down and write out your big long-term goals. The bigger the better in my opinion. Your goal should be so big you’re nervous to share it.
Second - reverse engineer it. Sure, it seems unattainable now. But fitness doesn’t happen overnight. What are the steps you need to take to get there?
This is how you develop systems from goals. You take the big goal, break it down into yearly (or seasonal) benchmarks, then you determine what systems you need to develop to be on track.
By the way, reply to this email and tell me that big goal - I’d love to hear it.
From there, you follow the plan while keeping your eye on the prize.
This does NOT mean you can’t have success in the short-term!
Obviously fitness isn’t flat until it suddenly goes parabolic. While it’s not linear either, you of course will make breakthroughs along the way.
But you must avoid prioritizing those short-term successes over the long-term goal.
Every decision you make should serve that long-term goal.
When you’re tempted to push too hard, train through an injury, or sacrifice rest for another workout, ask yourself: Will this help me get closer to my ultimate goal? Or am I chasing a short-term win that could cost me later?
It’s not easy. I get it. We live in a world that rewards instant gratification, and it’s hard to think years ahead when the next race feels so important. But trust me - playing the long game pays off.
The runners who achieve their biggest dreams aren’t the ones who win every workout or crush every season. They’re the ones who stay consistent, stay healthy, and stay committed to their long-term vision.
So, take a step back. Think about where you want to be a year from now. Five years from now. Ten years from now. What can you do today to set yourself up for success tomorrow?
Your future self will thank you.
See you next Tuesday!
Michael
PS. one last tip - work with a great coach! One who helps you stay focused on the big picture, who won’t let you sacrifice your long-term goals for the quick dopamine hit of a workout run too fast.
If that’s what you’re looking for, I’m taking on coaching clients right now. I’d love to work with you on developing a long-term plan and the short-term systems to get there.
