5 Meaningful Ways To Measure Success Beyond Speed

RUNNING IS SO COMPLEX. It requires form, fitness, discipline, patience – and the list goes on. Yet of all the things we improve on as we progress, we often focus solely on speed: faster splits, new PBs, finally beating that guy you see at all your races.

- Jess Movold

While it’s tempting to define success with a metric as black and white as speed, running itself is a beautiful shade of grey. True success is not just how fast you run, but is made up of many layers that require focus and contribute to improvement. Through hard work, experience, and consistency, we become better runners in many ways. Here are five to focus on when reflecting on your own success.

Proper Preparation

The time we reserve to prepare sets the tone for the run or workout ahead. Taking a few minutes to warm up, incorporate drills, and create the right environment to give our best in the upcoming effort sends a signal to our bodies that it’s gone time. Budgeting time to prep is hard and often overlooked, but failing to do so adds on layers of stress, leading to diminishing returns in our performance.

While it may seem difficult to measure preparation and translate that into success, it’s actually quite simple. Start paying attention to your level of readiness, and notice if there is a direct correlation to your performance that day. Did you prepare your clothes, gear, and playlist the night before so you weren’t rushed? Did you allow proper time for a pre-run dynamic warm-up and post-run stretch? These are easy yes or no answers. Jot them down or make a mental note, and see how they affect each run.

Consistent Habits