Competitive Running is a hobby of mine. Separate from all the obvious health benefits, I enjoy the raw honesty of objective results. Seeking adversity often strengthens one's character and competence. Many strong career performers use a sport to prepare them for daily challenges.
My analysis from my personal racing stats ON TOP - Learning to Win: Progression of Winning, Losing and PBs, acts a vehicle for intense honest scrutiny, all performance driven. Learning to deal with pressure of performing is a skill that did not come naturally for me. Developing a mild "achievement complex" was healthy for me, having come from an adolescence where risk-taking was discouraged and thus excellence became a curious intangible in my imagination.
Recently, I competed (not participated) in a winter cross-country running race in Guelph, ON. I faced the brutal honesty that I was not in an sort of competitive shape but yet, but choose to EXPERIENCE HUMILITY. Having won 5 of 5 races in 2010 prior to this, then marriage, a new job and moving priorities thereafter, I became physically unfit to compete, yet I brought my spirit to the battlefield. I wanted to seek the STATISTICS of my current state so I could confidently plan for a comeback. I was 2nd in my age-group and 17th overall. Since it wasn't a professional race, I normally would have a 50 / 50 chance of winning; not to be for this day. Failure gives the most important information to plan for success.
PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
I recently compiled 120 racing results past and present to find a trend - what actions were necessary to WIN. What functions are necessary to win? Statistical method applied to physiological adaptations; both physical and psychological begin to provide the data. Emotional intelligence unfounded to most fulfills the requirement of a champion.
ASSESSEMENT & EVALUATION
Frequent personal assessment and evaluation is optional once your graduate from formal education. Every quarter you may find your performance stats evaluated by your boss, but you know you just have to hit a baseline, so you set your goal to this standard. Being honest with yourself is needed. Reflection without having someone else initiate it needs to become a habit. Success is a function. A habit is a thought pattern or behavior repeated without thinking. Success is also a habit.
TRENDS OF PERFORMANCE
Adversity initiated my success habit. Emotional intelligent thinking developed the "survivor instinct" (killer instinct) possessed by all great champions to accept nothing less than a personal best performance. This adversity occurred in Seoul, Korea in fall 2006 and winter 2007. A cuminating medical decline, acquiring gastritis, a herniated disc and severely strained hamstring provided the low emotional state needed to generate the psychological tenacity to WIN NOW. Don't be afraid to fail, just be prepared to LEARN.
MY STATS
The Present (since 2007) = 16 WINS and 16 LOSES = 50 / 50 (1 : 1) chance to win any challenge.
The Past (before 2007) = 15 WINS and 73 LOSES = 20 / 80 (1 : 5) chance to win any challege.
Wins / Golds - 1st place finish
- 10k 2007 Terry Fox Windsor
- 5k 2007 UWO Homecoming London
- 5k 2007 Halloween Hoot Windsor
- 10k 2007 CRS Zoo Run Toronto
- 1500m 2008 OMTFA Provincials Toronto
- 800m 2008 USATF Master Nationals Boston
- 5k 2008 The Path Windsor
- 5k 2008 National Sports Tecumseh
- 5k 2008 Run for the Cure Windsor
- 21k 2008 Run for Hope Hamilton
- 15k 2009 Midsummer's Night Toronto
- 8k 2010 RF Footprint Windsor
- 5k 2010 LH Downtown London
- 10k 2010 Forest City London
- 10k 2010 Guelph Lake Guelph
- 5k 2010 Stony Lake Sprint Stony Lake
- 21k 2007 Run from Cancer Tecumseh
- 15k 2007 Midsummer's Night Toronto
- 5k 2008 RF Malden Park Windsor
- 5k 2008 WRACE Tortoise/Hare Windsor
- 800m 2008 OMTFA Provincials Toronto
- 40k 2010 MSC Lakeside Triathlon Relay (Cycling TT) Lakeside
- 21k 2007 Detroit Free Press Detroit
- 5k 2008 RF Spring Thaw Windsor
- 21k 2008 Detroit Free Press Relay Detroit
- 8k 2007 RF Beat Beethoveen Windsor
- 3000m 2007 Windsor Lancers Blue/Gold Windsor
- 25k 2008 USCA Nationals Kayak Marathon Bristol
- 5k 2009 RF Spring Thaw Windsor
- 10k 2009 Stony Lake Sprint Stony Lake
- 8k 2009 RF Charity Classic Windsor
- 8k 2009 OMTFA cross-country Guelph
- 5k 2010 Victors Wintercross cross-country Guelph
