At this time last year, I was nearing the end of marathon training, and I wrote a post titled “Anticipating the Ups, Downs, and Middles When Chasing Dreams. ” I wanted to revisit what I had said. This post referred to something you go through when “chasing dreams” from Olympian Alexi Pappas. She stated that “When you’re chasing a big goal, you’re supposed to feel good a third of the time, okay a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time.”
As many of you know, this has been a challenging year for me. When I reread this post, I wondered when I was going to get out of the “crappy third,” as it seems this has just been the flow of the year. I realized what I have been missing personally is “the goal” or “the dream.” I feel that I have been floating, and although I know my habits have helped, they seemingly are not enough without something to strive toward. As I thought about it more, I know habits are foundational, but goals are aspirational. I need both. The post was a good reminder for myself, so I wanted to reshare it with you today.
Anticipating the Ups, Downs, and Middles When Chasing Dreams
Marathon training has been fantastic for me, as pushing my physical limits has also challenged my mental capacity.
One week, I was thinking, “Wow! Do I feel fantastic, and I might be in the best shape I have been in my life!”
And immediately after that moment, I thought, “Enjoy it while it lasts because you know a crash will eventually come.”
It came the next week with an almost injury, decreased time, and feeling incredibly out of shape.
And when that came, do you know what I thought? I will be better soon.
So when I am up, I know a down is coming; when I am down, I know the up shall return.
Why is that?
It is because I saw this video from Olympian and author Alexi Pappas on the “Rule of Thirds”:
Connor Swenson shared the following quote from Pappas and the accompanying image that puts this all into perspective:
“When you’re chasing a big goal, you’re supposed to feel good a third of the time, okay a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time…and if the ratio is roughly in that range, then you’re doing fine.”
Alexi Pappas
Honestly, I have nothing more to add than what I have shared.
Except that if you think this only applies to “running,” you might be missing the big picture. As Pappas shares, the “Rule of Thirds” is about “dream-chasing,” whether personal, professional, physical, or anything else you can imagine.
I will leave you with the final thought from Pappas, as I know this has really helped my thinking in so many facets of my life. A good lesson for
Be a dream-chaser.
