The Unglamorous Middle

“It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.”

Great achievements start way before they are accomplished. The behind-the-scenes work has to be done for an ‘overnight’ success to happen. I feel like I’m in the behind-the-scenes part of my training journey.

I’m far enough away from the beginning of the journey that the excitement has worn off. I’m at the point where the training intensity and volume are ramped up so that my legs are sore before I’ve even started the warm-up mile. And I’m far enough away from race day to know I’m not at the home stretch yet. It’s the unglamorous middle, but it’s just as important as any other part.

After months of training, I’m not getting faster and fitter the same way I was earlier in the year. My body has done the bulk of the adapting, but now, in the unseen work it’s time to stack up the mileage on the legs (with back-to-back long runs most weekends now), increase durability, and steadily build on top of the foundation I have established.

It’s the unglamorous middle where I recognize it feels easy to quit. It’s easy to question if the journey is worth it, but I know that pressing on makes the difference between hitting the goal or coming up short.

So I press on and remind myself that any endeavor worth doing has an ‘unglamorous middle’. I have the opportunity to build mental toughness and get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s phases like these that I am glad there are people who have encouraged and motivated me without even realizing it. Everyone who partnered on the journey by following, subscribing, or donating to Usher Syndrome research gives me motivation and perspective to remember that I am doing this for reasons bigger than myself.

The middle is uncomfortable, but it’s temporary. The novelty phase came and went; the initial fitness boost phase came and went, the unglamorous middle will come and go too. I’ll be better off and more prepared because I persevered through it.

Whatever you’re running toward, run with purpose.

Leo