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What's your Sweet Spot?

Can a runner tackle all sorts of distances, terrains and weather conditions equally well?

It's a pretty common sense answer: NO. But then who said that runners have ANY SENSE, let alone common sense!!😝


I am sure all you runners out there face the same conundrum and get caught up in the vortex of achievement. Once you have done a few 5Ks, you graduate to 10Ks, then move up to half marathons and finally tick a few full (42K) ones. Now what? 

Pretty soon you feel an emptiness, no more new highs?!! You look around and see some insane people doing insane things....the ULTRAS. 50K, 100K, 12 hour runs, 24 hour runs!!😳

Gives you that feeling of not doing enough/ underachieving. You get caught on the hamster wheel, unable to get off. Pride of achievement takes precedence over the Joy of running. Pardon me, but it becomes something of a sadomasochistic thing. How much can you push yourself, how much misery can you pile up on your body, how much of a beating can your body take. 


Is it possible for every runner to incrementally run longer and longer distances/ more and more hours? My feeling is no. The coaches and mentors, the websites and magazine columns will have you believe that YOU CAN DO IT. With the right plans, adequate time and true dedication all distances and timings are achievable. Train your body and then train your mind to control the body. 


My gut feeling is that each runner has a sweet spot. Very individual, but every runner has a band within which he/ she is at their most efficient, at their happiest. This band is for both pace and distance. Probably cadence, foot strike and body posture too. You get advice on all of the above, how you need to alter these to run longer, faster, better. But vast majority of the recreational amateur runners, despite sincerely trying, will revert to their sweet spot. Their own pace band, their best distance, their comfortable cadence and natural foot strike. 


Those who can continuously reinvent themselves....best of luck to them. For me and others like me...don't over-think, don't over-reach, don't over-train. Running is instinctive, simple and a joy. Keep it that way. Find your own sweet spot👍🤗

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