Jun
2
Running with Purpose, not just Passion
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I recently read a blog post by Tanveer Naseer on transforming passion to purpose. In it, he uses a running analogy, comparing passion to a sprint and purpose to a marathon. Even before reaching this section of the post, I was struck by how his thoughts represented my past approach to marathons and why I eventually gave them up – I was passionately pursuing one goal (getting to Boston) without really understanding the bigger purpose to my running. Once BQ-level performance, or even running marathons, became impossible due to life changes (namely, having children), I gave up running altogether. I summarized this situation in my comment on Tanveer’s post.
As I read this post, I began to wonder whether even now I could state the purpose in my running. If I can’t, then I have to wonder if some day I will again walk away from it due to a lack of direction. Getting through Cleveland was driven by passion and a sense of renewal. I instinctively know that qualifying for Boston or setting new personal bests on an ongoing basis are not a sufficient purpose; these are too shallow and, in the case of the latter, impossible to continue ad infinitum, as at some point my body will not allow it. They are also subject to the vagaries of life – injuries, crises, schedule changes, or even the weather can prevent realization. They are great goals, but goals should not be confused with purpose. Passion can help you reach goals, but once that goal is reached (or becomes impossible), there needs to be another driver to be able to continue.
So what then is my purpose? Better health always seems like a suitable one, but it’s a bit nebulous – why do we want better health? It has to be more than just “tallying up the years” – those years need to mean something. Higher energy levels, looking and feeling more fit are nice results, but there are other ways to achieve these objectives that I don’t get very excited about (a perfect diet, other forms of exercise, more sleep, or even surgery).
So I thought about what made me start running again last year, when it was most challenging to do so due to other commitments and the fact that I was starting from ground zero. When I started, I didn’t have any thoughts about getting back to running marathons, so whatever motivated me can give a better insight as to the true purpose of doing this on a near-daily basis. The trigger was thinking about my seven year old son, who is autistic, and the increasing realization that we need to be prepared for the possibility that he will depend on our care for the rest of his life. Which, all going well, really means the rest of our lives, so yes, I guess I do have to worry about health. My wife is blessed with some long-lived genes in her family, especially in the women. My family has more of a mixed performance in this regard. While we have two more sons, we certainly do not want to inhibit their opportunities with the need to care for their brother (though we do want to instill the values whereby they would do so if needed).
This is really about more than health though. I think I want to set an example for all three boys of how to set and achieve goals, and the value of commitment and hard work (as well as the value of making good lifestyle choices). And I think I need the escape from the occasional frustrations that result not so much from the autism, but from balancing it with everything else that goes on in life. So the busier I get, the more I need to run – to explore, whether unique new settings around our own neighborhood, or in such beautiful places as San Diego. And I enjoy having something that is truly my own, where my performance is strictly determined by my own talent and effort and I can experiment, with little outside noise, with different approaches and measure the results (sorry, I have an engineering degree).
Ann Brennan has posted about how one’s purpose in running can evolve. I agree in general, and I’m sure mine has and will. I do believe there needs to be a “unifying theme” or “grounding principle” that makes this evolution smooth and rational, instead of chaotic and random. For example, the “role model” element of my purpose will take on more significance as my sons get older and face lifestyle decisions in their formative teenage and college years. But the core elements remain the same – after all, your personal values and beliefs seldom shift, even if your priorities do.
The importance of having a purpose that you understand and acknowledge is obvious when something interferes with your short-term goal. Relying strictly on passion in the face of challenges leads to frustration and burn-out – much like a sprinter suddenly being told that they instead are competing in a marathon. Passion can push you through that season (if all goes well), but it takes purpose to maintain the commitment for the long run.
I know my purpose may not be clearly stated, and I may need to understand it better in the long run, but I know it’s there. How about you – do you recognize your own purpose in your running? If so, feel free to share it in the comments. If not, maybe this is a good time to start thinking about and discussing it – before you face a crisis where you do need to understand it.
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