Lately, I've taken up running, and today marked a small milestone as I completed my first 21K run. The experience was good. I was wondering to take this as an opportunity to reflect on a couple of lessons, I learnt in my last 8 months of running & traning. Actually I subscribe to Malcolm Gladwell’s philosophy from his book “Outliers: The Story of Success” which emphasizes dedicating a minimum of 10,000 hours to mastering a particular skill. However, I thought of sharing early thoughts, which like any other thing are subject to change.
Don’t judge
I usually start running around 5 to 6 AM, and I wrap up within an hour or two, depending on the type of run I'm doing. When I'm out there, I see all sorts of folks—running, jogging, walking, cycling. People approach running in various ways: some are barely jogging, looking tired; others are taking a slow stroll, while a few are sprinting like they're competing with cheetahs. There are those running together with shared music blaring from a speaker, some have headphones on, and others are repeating mantras or chatting on the phone while running. The pace varies, from easygoing to pretty fast.
As part of my training routine, I've come to understand the importance of those long endurance runs. Even if I could go faster, these runs are meant to be slower, at a pace of around 8:40 per km, with a heart rate in the 150-160 range. During these sessions, I've had time to think, and here's what I've introspected so far.
One big thing I've learned is not to judge. Some days you'll have an awesome run, and other days it'll just feel off. A lot of factors play into a good run. On the inside, stuff like how well you slept last night, what you ate before or the day before, how hydrated you are, how you're feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically—all of it matters. Even things like your warm-up before the run, how you stretched after the last run, any nagging injuries, or medical conditions can have an impact. Then there's the outside stuff—humidity, weather, the road you're on, the people around you, and so on.
When you start realizing how many moving pieces are involved in just this one activity of running, it hits you: there's really no point in sizing up anyone else's run or what they're doing.
Now think about your whole life, whether you've lived for 10, 30, 50, or 80 years. So many things, from inside you and outside you, are either falling into place or not. So, really, judging others for their runs or anything else they're up to just doesn't make sense.
Extensity and intensity
Now, this might stir up a few reactions, but before we dive in, let me break down what I mean by these two words. Intensity—this refers to the sheer force and vigor with which things are done. On the other side, we have Extensity—this pertains to the span or duration for which you can keep things going.
You've probably noticed that people, companies, influencers, the education system, and even advertisements tend to focus on intensity. The prevailing idea is that a strong burst of effort leads to favorable outcomes. In fact, intensity often goes hand in hand with focus. We're living in a tik-tok world where quick results are coveted, and that's where intensity shines.
Now, extensity, that's a whole different ballgame. It demands dedication. It requires deliberate practice. In the early days, dragging myself out of bed felt like an uphill battle. But as Woody Allen said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." So, it started with simply setting my shoes and gear aside for the next morning. As my commitment wavered, even getting out of bed became a struggle. That's when a quote from James Clear came to the rescue: "You are 5 minutes away from putting your day on a completely different trajectory."
So, let's pose some questions:
- Are you ready to commit to a full 10-day Vipassana course in the hopes of achieving enlightenment, or would you rather practice for just 10 minutes a day over the next 12 years?
- Are you aiming to maintain your fitness and keep running for the next two decades, or are you content with posting a photo on Instagram after completing a 10K, marathon, or even an Ironman?
- Is your focus on sealing the next business deal, or do you aspire to cultivate lasting relationships with your clients?
- Does learning Figma solely to secure your job align with your goals, or would you prefer to invest time in solving real user problems?
- When it comes to leisure, are you seeking your next vacation or weekend getaway for pure fun, or are you more inclined to explore novel experiences?
- Are you driven to shed weight, or is your primary objective to achieve overall fitness?
- Do you wish to play guitar to impress others or you consider music as your life long companion?
In a world that often leans towards quick and intense, it's worth considering the power and potential of the long-haul commitment, the extensity approach.
It’s not a question of either-or. For me, the answer is, we need both. As Vivekananda says, “If you have infinite patience and perseverance, success is bound to come. No mistake in that.”
I made a poster for this. Ping me to buy it. ₹750. Digital Print, Available in A4 and A3 size.
