Author Art Williams wrote a book called, “All You Can Do is All You Can Do, But All You Can Do is Enough!” It is this message that I hope to get across, whether directly or indirectly, to every runner I coach. I want to first highlight the lifestyle of every amateur runner and what sets them apart.
Why Amateur Runners ROCK
Let’s get straight to the obvious – amateur runners are awesome! We have found a way to combine a healthy lifestyle with having fun. Our social lives center around races and running groups. No time to meet a friend for coffee? No problem. We meet them for an easy Sunday run and multitask like a champ.
We welcome the puzzled looks when we tell our coworkers that our Saturday long run is the main event of our weekend. And we return those same puzzled looks to them when they ask, “Won’t you get bored?” The constraints of time seemingly don’t apply to us as we are ALWAYS able to find time to run.
Filling out a racing calendar for the year is like Christmas come early to the amateur runner. Second only to bringing home a new pair of running shoes. For me personally, making myself *or anyone!) a 16-week training plan can turn any day into a great one!
Amateur runners are experts at using Google to research every curious ache or pain. And when it comes to race day weather forecasts, we hit weather.com more than any other demographic out there! Yes, we amateur runners are in a league of our own. But what really sets us apart, in my opinion, goes deeper than race medals and bumper stickers.
What Motivates the Amateur Runner?
The amateur runner by definition doesn’t see a dime for his running exploits. He or she may PR a dozen times over but will never achieve anything remotely close to a sponsorship deal like a professional. Their motivation is completely void of any monetary gain.
Instead, the amateur runner is motivated by something deeper. Perhaps he just wants to know what his ceiling truly is. At the professional level, with the years of training and the resources available, oftentimes it becomes clear what someone’s potential is at a particular distance. But for amateurs, many times, this potential is completely untapped, to be slowly uncovered over the course of many years.
The amateur runner is often addicted to self-improvement. “I know I can be better,” they say to themselves. They are happy where they are (or at least they SHOULD be), but they love even more the thought of what they can become, even if it’s only one or two percent. “I can do hard things,” is often a mantra of the amateur athlete. For some, this is the reason they got into the sport in the first place. And it’s the drive to do harder and harder things that keeps them there.
What Holds Them Back?
For everything that motivates the amateur runner, there’s still obstacles that hold them back. To be amateur in one thing is to be a “professional” at another. Whether it be a doctor, nurse, stay-at-home parent, electrician, teacher, or anything in between, most runners have to juggle their running aspirations with their other passions and professions.
Running parents learn to adjust their training schedules even more to the schedules of their children. Sometimes I’m amazed at the level of running people are able to maintain while having young children!
The bottom line is what separates the elite runner from the amateur. Quite simply, the amateur runner is not willing to do whatever it takes to reach new heights. I’m not willing to sacrifice my career (which supports my family) in order to tackle a crazy running goal. To some, that may sound like I’m not a hardcore runner, and I’m okay with that. I know the time I put in and how much I love it. But the bottom line is I’d rather be a hardcore husband and father. Others might say they’d rather be a hardcore accountant or insurance agent!
So as the book title tells us, all we can do is all we can do. We do the best we can with the time we have. Sure, our jobs might take away 8 hours or more. Sure, our family is going to come first. What’s left is our time to do all we can do.
All You Can Do is Enough
If an amateur runner has major goals, they will quickly find many constraints. Not enough time or resources or talent or something else entirely. They may be tempted to despair if they can’t reach their goals.
It’s true – human beings have an innate desire to grow, to learn, to achieve something bigger. But what’s the opposite of this? The desire to be accepted, to be okay with where they are at this moment. At one end of the spectrum, we have the person who is all-or-nothing in their training and goal-setting. “If I don’t hit that time, I’m an absolute failure,” they might say, with no regard for the growth that’s happened.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the other extreme. Someone who is TOO okay with themselves as they are now. No aspirations or goals or ambitions. We can quickly see that the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
Working within your limited time, your limited abilities – it’s enough. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
It’s Enough But…
Many people go through life NOT doing ALL that they can do. Make the most of the time you DO have to chase those goals. If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us don’t do all we can do. What do you have to change to make sure you are doing all you can do?
It’s true, amateur runners are a rare breed. They are special for many reasons, from their weekend activities to their deeper motivation. The motivation of an amateur runner can take them many places, but as long as you are honestly doing all you can do – it’s enough.
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