Free Guided Run
Learn how to accept yourself, and others, while on a run.
POSITIVE AFFIRMATION
“Rebounding from a sickness is always a reminder to appreciate all the things I can do while healthy. Call it the “man-flu,” if you want, but when I get sick, all I want is my wife, the couch, and some TV.
Today I’ll appreciate my physical power.”
- Johnny T. Nguyen
During my last run, coached by Nike Running Global Head Coach Bennet, I wondered what it would sound like if I guided a run. More specifically, I’d guide you on a run where the main topic would be achieving balanced productivity. Let’s run with this for a bit…
I’d imagine you’d have two immediate questions: (1) Why should you run if you aren’t a runner, and (2) why should you listen to me?
First, if you’re not a runner, perhaps you’re a walker, jogger, biker, or anything cardio. If you’re none of those, then there’s no time like right now to make a small habit change. Getting enough sleep is the best thing you can do for your health span; the second best is cardio.
Second, if I guided a run, it would be arranged like a movie! My movie would be about how to achieve more balance and harmony while striving for great productivity.
ACT 1 - Main Character and The Conflict
The main character is you, someone who’s a high achiever but with lots of balls in the air to juggle. There’s a lot of expectations on you. Some are from others, but mostly, it’s your own expectations.
Here’s what I’d coach:
Your Why. Why are you running right now? You could’ve decided to do anything, like sit on the couch or sleep in, but here you are on a run. Why?
Accept the fact that you have a lot of expectations and responsibilities. Take a moment to be ok that you might be feeling overwhelmed or that others might be underwhelmed with your performance.
Now, let it all go. Every emotion has a beginning and an end. This emotion you’re feeling right now is no different. Let it pass through you and, instead, turn your focus back on the reason why you started this run.
Check in with your posture, i.e., your productivity habits. Have you been feeling focused or distracted lately? Have you been maintaining your goals and commitments? And have you been exercising but also resting enough? A good foundation of productivity depends on consistency.
ACT 2 - Confrontation and Stakes Rise
For the middle portion of this run, I want you to acknowledge all the other people in your life. Think of all the people who are frequent or important to you. Realize that each of those people has their own life, full of stress, joy, sadness, etc, and that you’re just one character in their story.
I’ll coach you to:
Pick up the pace! During Act 1, we are just warming up with an easy run to get our bodies used to being in motion. But now, our bodies are ready, and let’s kick it up a notch.
Understand that what’s easy for you could be hard for others. Conversely, what’s hard for you, like perhaps your running pace right now, is easy for others. The point - each person has their own stress levels, and we should not judge them nor be too harsh on ourselves.
Who’s the villain in your story? Your villain might be what’s holding you back from being productive and happy. Easy to blame it on a specific person or a specific situation, but more than likely, it’s the gap between what we expect from others and what they actually did. That gap in expectation causes suffering.
ACT 3 - Resolution and Growth
Here we are at the end! Like any movie that’s been going great, the ending can make or break how we ultimately feel about that movie. As we get closer to the finish line, here’s what I’ll focus you on:
Do not give up or lose focus on your running posture and your breathing.
Come full circle from how we started this run. We spent some time acknowledging why we started this run despite a billion things on the to-do list and the pressures that come with them. Yet, we also made time on this run to empathize with others and what might be running through their lives.
Accept that there are a lot of expectations for you, and that’s ok. Everybody has expectations for themselves, and we are not special in that regard. Actually, take comfort that you’re not in it alone!
With only a couple of minutes left in this run, I want us to end on a strong finish. Coach Bennet would say that a good run is a run that ends with you feeling great and wanting to start another run someday. I will coach you that it feels great knowing that you are capable of so much more than you thought.
That’s why we will end this run with 2 intervals of 15-second sprints. Sprints are short bursts of maximum exertion. For a short 15 seconds, I want you to give it all you've got.
During sprints, your whole body is active, not just your legs. Your abs are crunching, your arms are swinging, and your focus sharpens on your breath and stride.
This last bit is a celebration of your body, your mind, and your attitude.
TAKEAWAY
Have you ever regretted a workout afterward? Nope.
Have you ever regretted being nice to someone? No again.
Accept who you are and your current predicament. Take a moment to accept others and where they’re at. Then trust that if you go on a run and think through these concepts, you may end up in a much better place.
NOW JUST DO IT
Nike should really be sponsoring me at this point, haha.
Here’s a link to this audio run. I suggest clicking it and then immediately texting yourself the link. So when you’re ready for a run, the link is there waiting for you.
