Secret: Even Coaches Get Coached

This past summer, I started tossing around the idea of doing the Athens “Authentic” Marathon. I had been living in Greece for 4 years, and the timing seemed just right.

I had run a couple of marathons in my 20s, but now in my early 40s with two small kids this was different. My pace had slowed down to a crawl and my long distance running days seemed like a faded memory. I promised myself that once I managed to run for 75 minutes, I would register for the Marathon. The trouble was, I just couldn’t do it. My inner voice claimed to know why. “Who are you kidding?” she would say. “Your body just isn’t the same now that you’re a mom. Give it up!”

To help prepare for the marathon and help get me where I wanted to go, I decided to utilize my resources and build a team. As the African Proverb goes, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Many people have the misconception that coaching is only for people who have “problems.”

I reached out to a colleague of mine and incredible Health and Wellness Coach, Gary Rankin (www.garyrankincoaching.com), and asked for his support. I explained to Gary that my goal was not to run the marathon, but rather to enjoy the journey getting there.

When telling friends I would be running the marathon, they would naturally ask, “What time are you aiming for?” In my mind, the key question was, “Why do I want to run a marathon?” That was a more complex question and required me to dig deeper into what my motivation was and how I wanted to feel when training and running.

As Gary and I explored why the marathon was important to me, I was surprised when I heard myself say, “because I want to prove to myself that I still can do anything that I set my mind to doing.” Why did I need to prove anything to myself, I wondered?

In the coaching realm we often speak of values: the principles you want to live by in life. Unlike goals, values can’t be checked off. As I was training for the marathon, I thought about how I could incorporate my values on an on-going basis to lead to greater self-fulfillment. Every time I went for a run, I wanted to feel challenged, powerful, carefree and alive while having fun. Gary asked me to fast forward time and imagine having completed the marathon. He had me describe what that would look like, what it would feel like. A clear picture came to mind. I wanted to feel like Super Mom.

Super Mom, in my mind, was a woman who played with her kids, carved out time for herself, demonstrated by example, maintained a work-life balance and understood that she had it in her to be greater and braver than she believed herself to be. This image reminded me of all my values and set the tone for how I wanted to run the marathon and how I wanted to experience the journey.

It wasn’t just Gary whom I asked to join me on this journey. I created a team of support. I asked one of my best friends Bert, a triathlete, to guide me on Sports Nutrition and Muscle Recovery, something she is passionate about. I also found a dedicated running partner to train with me. When I run, I don’t like to look at the time or the pace, I just like to go. Laura, on the other hand, didn’t mind keeping us on track.

So now I’ve completed the marathon, here are my top tips I learned along the way, tips that apply to all goals in our lives:

Create a vision: What are your goals and dreams? Why do you want to accomplish these goals? What will you feel like when you have achieved them? By creating a vision, you give yourself something to grow into.

Assemble your team: You have a wealth of resources at your fingertips and you know what works for you. How can you get others involved? Who can support you in your journey?

Identify your values: What are your top values? Why are they important to you? How do they relate to your goals? Often times you can feel a sense of fulfillment just by living in line with your values, as you continue working towards your goals. In what ways did you live by your principles today?

Find your inspiration: What is it that can serve as a reminder of your values? Mine was a superwoman costume. Yours may be a sticky note on the mirror, a photograph, a screen saver on your phone.

After many months of training and preparation I completed the Marathon on November 12th. Hands down, it was one of my most exhilarating and euphoric life experiences. I stretched and pushed myself and there were times where I wanted to give up, but I persevered. Super Mom was a superhero, she lapped up the high fives, the applause, the laughter and the cheering from the crowds. Super Mom crossed the finish line that day and I was extremely proud.