Sorry to be the bearer of bad news – but repetitions are required. Yup, you just cannot get healthy by going to your Pilates studio for one day. Just because you were drenched in sweat after your hot yoga session, does not mean you are on the path to a healthy life style. Running is not helpful if you did it once. Lifting weights is just torture if you pushed enough iron to get yourself sore, but then did not return. Repetition, frequent and often is absolutely required for any self improvement. I am not just talking about exercise either.
If you want to improve, then you must repeat. In fact, I will say that the ONLY way you can improve at something is if you repeat, repeat, repeat and then repeat some more. Repetition is the key to success. Motivation, inspiration, discipline, your mindset are all meaningless words compared to the absolute ultimate key ingredient to success and that is repetition. Are you not good at something and you want to be? Do not know something that you would like to know? Want to accomplish something that you have not accomplished? Then just start doing it and repeat. Repeat so many times that you cannot remember not doing it and then repeat some more.
Funny. The key to successful running has very little to do with all the things that I have learned about running along the way. Lactaid acid threshold, VO2 Max, SPM and Cadence, proper form, proper clothes, 0 drop shoes – all of these things are completely useless if you are not running frequently, often and repeating. The number 1 ingredient to a successful runner is the amount of time they spend in the act of running. That is it, end of debate.
You want to be successful, spend more time at the thing you want to be successful at. Pretty freaking simple. You want to change? Then start doing what you want to become and you will become it. I think I have just about proven this beyond any doubt. I wanted to be a better chess player – I played chess everyday and got vastly better then I was. I wanted to be a better runner – I ran everyday and now I think I might consider myself an actual “runner.” I wanted to improve my core strength – I did push-ups every day and that worked. I wanted to improve my memory – I worked on it everyday, a little at at time and my memory has really improved. Do not believe me, then try it!
Pick something, anything, and do it everyday and keep repeating. In 365 days from now, if you keep it up, you can email me and admit that I am right. It almost does not matter how good you do it everyday, your mind, body will figure it out along the way. You are a remarkable creature – you will adapt to just about anything your mind conceives of. Stop worrying about doing it right, or proper or perfect – just start right now, TODAY, and repeat, repeat, repeat.
Guy Reams
365 Alumni
42 Days Left to 1st Marathon
