Running, like any sport, and any part of life in general, is full of ups and downs. Sometimes it feels as though you are floating effortlessly, it is like second nature, and you are on a constant upward trajectory. At other times you are putting in all the hard work and there just seems to be no results. That being said, both the ups and the downs have incredibly positive effects and act as opportunities to grow. It simply depends on how you look at the situation. Last weekend, I raced for Great Britain in Pacé at the European 10,000m Cup. Building up to the race training had been going incredibly well, I was feeling confident, and my body was in a great place. All of these things still stand, but the race didn’t go to plan. Unfortunately, I was tripped and fell around 4.5k and it threw my entire race. I ended up DNF’ing. Of course this had never been my plan, and I was incredibly frustrated as I knew I was (and still am) in great shape. However, when I looked at it, there were still so many positives to take away. I want to use this blog to show you how something that might initially seem like a negative, actually holds so many powerful positives to it. I didn’t get to show my current fitness. I will get to show my fitness at another race. No matter how a race, or session for that matter, goes, nothing has ever gone to waste. There will always be another opportunity to showcase what you’re capable of. All the hard work you have banked now, be that in sport or another venture, will continue to help you now and into the future, even if it doesn’t feel like it currently. Whether your next race goes as you hope, or perhaps it doesn’t for another year, every day of work you put in is a step forward in a positive direction. I failed because I didn’t finish the race. I did what was best for me and it wasn’t failure, but instead a learning opportunity.
We all know ourselves better than anyone else, therefore the opinion of others is irrelevant. Even though it isn’t a pleasant feeling when you pull out of a race, I knew, in that moment, that was the right thing for me to do. As athletes we are very strong-minded and determined people, but we also beat ourselves up at times. The decision I made was the right thing for me at that time, and is in no way a sign of failure. It is in fact a sign of success, as I was able to act in the best way for me now and into the future. To me, being able to listen to my mind and act rationally is not something that comes easily. I wasted a great opportunity. I learnt so many valuable lessons. Yes, the weekend was a great opportunity, but it was also one of many that I will get to experience. It was also far from a wasted one as I learnt so many valuable lessons. These were lessons that I wouldn’t have learnt had the race gone exactly to plan. Every race or opportunity, no matter how it goes, gives us the experience we need to be able to progress in the sport. Being at the race itself gave me experience that I would never had got if I wasn’t there. I also had the best weekend with some amazing people and athletes. It is such an amazing thing to be able to get a Great Britain vest, but to spend the weekend with like-minded, positive and hard working individuals made it even better. I let my team down. Those around me are here for the long run, one race doesn’t change that. Running can at times seem a very individual sport, but it is quite the opposite. There are so many people that play an integral role in my development, progression and daily life as an athlete. They know that sport is a constant journey of ups and downs, and they are here for all of that. I know that they believe in me as much, if not more, than I do, and they do not let one race define me. I am not defined or held to one single result, and am instead excited for what the future holds, but I will not get too low by the lows or high by the highs. These are just a few examples of how a negative can instead be seen as a positive to learn from. I hope that when life deals you are card you see as a negative, you can flip it and realise that there is something positive to gain from it. Ultimately, every experience in life, whether you define it as positive or negative, is a learning opportunity.
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Hannah IrwinI love to run and I love to write, so I write about running! Archives
March 2023
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