Deserve To Win

Years of coaching and even training for the original Ultimate Runner Competition (10k, 400 meters, 100 meters, a mile, and marathon all ran on the same day) years ago reinforced the idea that hard work is mandatory for any worthwhile goal.  

When you train harder and smarter than ever, great things generally happen, and you soar to new heights never experienced before. However,  the current culture generally needs to catch up on the importance of hard work in attaining essential life goals.

We should not expect free lunches when trying to reach any critical life goal. Giving it our all is the fuel of all personal breakthroughs.

The simple act of giving it your all is nothing new. For thousands of years, champions in every area of life have learned to leave nothing at the finish line of their goals and dreams.

Everything worthwhile in life generally requires hard work and dedication. To think we can get by with little work in attaining a meaningful life goal is false thinking.

There are no shortcuts to success. Self-sacrifice and self-discipline are more than mere words to the champion. They are a way of life if you want to succeed in endurance sports or any important life goal. 

The motivation marketplace is flooded with surefire, easy-to-use formulas for complete success. Refrain from falling for these lies, even though masses of people do every day. Reaching an important life goal, especially endurance running, requires hard work, dedication,  focus, and working smart.

The truth is that more great knowledge does not necessarily equal more extraordinary performance in any area of life either. Being head smart is different from being street smart. You have to apply what you've learned to reap results. Well done is better than well said.

We have enough theorists in life. We need more people who live the phrase "well done is better than well said." No matter our success, we can never rest on our laurels if we expect to reach a meaningful and worthwhile goal. Every new goal takes hard work and dedication.

Let me illustrate these points. I coached an athlete once who forgot the "Deserve to Win principle."

One runner I coached was a national-class endurance runner at one time. This athlete worked extremely hard to run at the national class level. After many years of competition, this athlete retired from competitive distance running.

However, with another Olympic trial looming, the runner wanted to give it one more try. There was only one problem. In some ways, this person assumed they could reach their goal because they had been in the championship zone. The athlete needed to remember how much work it took to achieve essential goals. This person missed their goal primarily because they needed to reflect on the commitment and extra hard work it took to reach a significant life milestone.

Zig Ziglar, one of the all-time best motivational speakers, was famous for practicing his speeches for hours before an event, even though he often gave the same lesson many times before. He knew that deserving to win was mandatory, not optional. There was no entitlement thinking in his life.

Remember the "Deserve to Win" principle. These three words will help you in all aspects of life, not just endurance running.

There is always a need and room for grace in life. We all need grace and mercy at times. However, consistent entitlement thinking is the enemy of excellence and progress in all areas of life.

Always do your best by going the extra mile in life's most important activities, including your running goals.

The simple saying, "Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard," is correct.           

Deserve to win. You are a champion when you give your best. That is all anyone can ask for in life.

Blessings,

Coach Weber

Philippians 4:13

Photo Credit Unknown.