What's The Difference Between 3 Miles And 26 Miles?

When I decided to train myself for, and run my first marathon to mark me hitting my 40th birthday, I was eager to make the self improvement and goal achievement discoveries that I knew were ahead of me.

Since my book and newsletter are about those very subjects, I knew I would be able to see the theories in action over and over. I noticed the most recent one just last week.

At the weekend I do my long training run, and during the week I have 2 sessions of running 3 miles. I have been training myself to be able to maintain a consistent pace throughout, which is in the area of 12 minutes per mile, or 5 miles an hour.

Last week I noticed that I felt particularly tired after one of my 3 mile sessions. I had run it in the usual time, 36 minutes, but was glad to have got to the end. On the Sunday, however, when I hit the 3 mile mark, I felt fine. I still did it in 36 minutes, but it was only the first 3 miles of a 15 mile session!

So why is it that a 3 miler makes me feel more tired when it is 3 miles and no more, and yet the exact same 3 miles feels fine when it is part of a 15 mile session?

The reason comes down to goal setting, and the subconscious belief.

In a 15 mile session, I know that when I hit the 3 mile mark, I am only 20% through the run. Although I have a long way to go, I know I have prepared well, and that my body is ready for the long miles ahead. The thought of the finish is not in my head, as I have to concentrate on each step as I go along.

For a 3 mile session, when I hit the 3 mile mark, it's the 'finish line.' Something in my subconscious tells me that I should feel tired at the end of a run, so at the end of a 3 miler I do feel tired.

This is a classic in the areas of goal achievement and self improvement! You need to set your goals that extra bit further than you think. Otherwise you will be limiting yourself.

In my training analogy. yes, I get to the 3 mile mark in the same time for both sessions, but when I have longer to go, a further goal ahead of me, it always feels much easier to be on the journey rather than falling over the finish line.

This kind of theory is the thing I have used for over 20 years, and still use to this day.

So, think about your life - can you see the difference between 3 miles and 26 miles? Are you setting your finish line too early?

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which has been described as 'motivational magic.' Read about it and grab his free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan at: www.transformyourlifenow.com

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