WHEN YOUR EYES ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR STOMACH

We used to call that "biting off more than you can chew".  It comes from having grand expectations that time and circumstances will not permit you to fulfill.  For example, do you remember as a child being told to "clean your plate" at every meal, expecially when visiting away from home?  You knew that you could take as much as you wanted; but you were obligated to eat it all.  Under these circumstances, did you find yourself coming up short?  That extra dessert looked mighty good when you were dipping it into your plate; but three bites later you were already feeling full.  Now you were not sure that you could get it all down.  That is when your eyes were too big for your stomach. I have heard some remarkably funny stories from people who remember their experience like it was yesterday, even though it happened many years ago.

Have you faced the same situation in running?  If not, you are fortunate.  My list would be rather long: of steep hills I wanted to challenge but couldn't make it to the top; of distances I wanted to run but couldn't complete; of PRs I dreamed of achieving, only to have my bubble burst before the finish line.  Most of the time I even knew that I had set myself up for my own failure.  I had bitten off more than I could possibly chew.

1. IT COMES FROM UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.  With very few exceptions, you can run any distance you want to run: PROVIDED you will allow for time, patience and training.  The difficulty comes when you want your victories immediately i.e.  you want instant success. Your first marathon can't be prepared for in six weeks.  Your new PR won't come without proper training.  Your recovery from injury will not happen overnight.  BUT if you take the time, exercise the patience and endure the training, so many things become possible.

2. IT COMES FROM BOASTING IN ADVANCE.  There is nothing wrong in having your secret goals; but it is seldom wise to predict results in advance.  Too many things can go wrong.  There will be plenty of time to talk after the running is done.  Even the extra pressure such boasting places on you can ruin your race or get you off pace.  So just relax, run the best you can on this particular day; and let the results speak for themselves.

3. SOMETIMES IT IS SIMPLY GETTING CAUGHT UP IN CIRCUMSTANCES.  Have you ever been talked into a distance that you knew you were not prepared to run?  Have you been drawn out at a pace that was beyond your ability?  Has your competitive spirit moved you to do things you were well aware were foolish or even dangerous?  Those are the times when you wish your eyes really knew what your stomach could endure.

4. IT COMES FROM NOT RECOGNIZING YOUR OWN LIMITS.  We all have them, you know.  They may not be your limits after more training or recovery; but for today, they are almost set in stone. You may press those limits; but trying to seriously go beyond them can get you in real trouble.  Such conduct invites injury and disappointment.  It is the smart runner who can determine what his or her limits are, and then stay within them.

5. IT IS REFLECTED IN THE AGING FACTOR.  Most runners will peak in their 30s.  Some accomplish remarkable things later; but it must be measured in comparison to those near their age. Thankfully, there are many things that we can do to delay or slow down the aging process; but we cannot reverse it.  It is going to happen to all of us.  The Age-Graded Tables and the All-American Standards are challenging just to read.  They both reflect a steady decline past age 35, slowly at first then accelerating as the years go by.  You will not find them far off from what the best in an age group can do.  So you can defy the aging factor to some extent; but you cannot afford to ignore it completely.  It is much better to recognize and learn to live with it.  That will make more of your dream attainable.

We all can learn to run better.  Our best races can still be ahead.  At least we can run smarter and smoother.  So dream your dreams.  Accept your challenges.  Press the boundaries. Don't sell yourself short.  Those things are what running is all about; but be realistic enough not to dip more on your plate at any one time than your stomach can hold.  That's just good sense!