I started running in 1987. Although initially my training was to compete in triathlons, I immediately started considering Boston as a marathon to run in the future. It took me 10 years and 10 attempts before I succeeded, as you can read in my running memoir, Take 10 and Reach the Boston Marathon.
Over the last 20 years, my focus has been on running, although not so much on racing. I have only been competing in one or two races per year. As my wife has re-invigorated her running lately, it was time for me to be more serious with my own running. This is where I decided to use the DREAMS Cycle ™ to help me. The start of the DREAMS Cycle ™ is D for “Dreams and Desires” as mentioned in a previous blog. This step allows you to determine what are your dreams and desires, what you really want, what makes you happy.
The difference between dreams and desires is that dreams are the things you would really like to achieve if you had all the money, time, energy, talent, opportunity and support you needed. For example, a dream for me is to win the Boston Marathon. Desires, on the other hand, are more concrete and immediate. For example, I wish I could run in the Boston Marathon. The difference is subtle, and in the end, it does not matter that much as long as you identify what will make you happy.
The beginning of the year is often a great time to start dreaming. To identify your Dreams and Desires, you need to be in the right frame of mind and in the right setting. A calm soothing environment is more conducive to letting your mind wander and to dream. This could be lying on a hammock by the sea. It could be in a quiet reclining chair in a family room. For me, the kitchen table at the cottage creates a great atmosphere.
While pondering your dreams, the distractions of everyday life must be kept to a minimum. Your mind must be free of work concerns; family obligations must be put aside; paying bills must be postponed. Early mornings or late night can often work better for people. You will need to find about 30 minutes, two or three times over the course of a week. In my case, obligations are lessened at the cottage once the children have gone to bed. I pour myself a soothing drink: sometimes a soft drink, sometimes a sparkling juice, on the rare occasions, a cooler.
Not only do you need to think of your dreams and desires, but you also need to record them as you will need to reflect on them further on. Any piece of paper would do, but I prefer a notepad. If you have the right technology, you could use a computer or a tablet with an app. For example, you could use OneNote or Evernote.
Once you have your ideal location and some quiet time, simply close your eyes or stare into space and let your mind wander. Ask yourself: what do I really want out of running? What would really make me happy? What would excite me so much that I would dance spontaneously? There are no bad dreams or desires. Dreams can be as outlandish as you want; there are no dreams too silly to consider. Dreams don’t have to be realistic; reality will come later when you set your goals. Remember, these are your dreams and you most likely will never share these with another human soul, lest you be put away or laughed out of this world. Capture every idea that pops into your head, even if it repeats itself in a different shape. This is brainstorming at its crudest. Don’t analyze and determine if your dreams are feasible or not; just write them down.
As I have been running for so long, and have made these dreams lists so often, I have a good idea of what I want to achieve with my running so I can go directly to my desire which is to qualify for the Boston Marathon again.
In the next post, we will explore the dreams and desires so as to determine the reasons you want to run, or in my case to qualify for Boston.
