Conserving energy

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So often (in running and in life) we are told to pace ourselves. We are told to get enough rest. We are told to start slow. We are told to save our money, preserve our strength and conserve our energy.

This advice has wisdom to it. After all, most people sprint 100 meters at a faster pace than they run a marathon.

But our natural instincts to conserve energy don’t always serve us like they helped our ancestors, who were naturally pushed to run fast in order to survive. Since we are rarely pushed to our limits by our surroundings the same way today, it is up to us to avoid conserving our energy.

We know this because many times we see great things accomplished by people who don’t conserve energy. They go as fast as they can without slowing down while maintaining faith that they will learn to maintain a faster pace. One example is the advice that the late Bill Bowerman (legendary University of Oregon track coach and Nike co-founder), shared with athletes who were training to run a 4 minute mile:

“Set a fast pace for the first two laps, run the third as hard as you can, then triple your speed on the fourth.”

Bowerman advised conserving energy during the first 2 laps, going all out during the third lap then running even faster during the fourth lap, encouraging runners to trust their ability to hit a new level.

3 ways to consider conserving energy this week.

1. How much is in my tank: Do I have more in me? Is this my top speed or is it just fast enough to fit in? Am I really tired or does it just seem like I’ve worked enough for today? An honest assessment of how much we have in our tank is a good place to start when considering how we are conserving our energy.

2. What am I conserving my energy for: Am I honestly telling myself to slow down because I need to rest or are others telling me to slow down because that is a pace at which they are comfortable. Maybe energy is being conserved in preparation for a good reason, like an upcoming marathon, job interview or big family event. If we have something specific that we are conserving energy, great, if not then lets find a way to empty our tanks.

3. How can I maximize my potential: If we have more in our tank, we benefit from considering how we can empty our tanks to maximize our potential. By outlining a plan, executing and making things happen, we become the best versions of ourselves and create a better future for others.

Thanks for reading. Let’s have a great week!