go slow to go fast
If you’ve been following me for a minute, you may know that I’m training for an ultra marathon this fall. And last Friday my long run was 22 miles. Not really that long in the scheme of things, but it’s the longest run I’ve done in a while.
One thing I’m practicing on long run days is finding my ‘all-day pace.’ I’ll confess, it’s pretty slow. Even the fastest runners have a slow all day pace…relatively speaking. You want to be able to maintain your all-day pace comfortably for hours upon hours. Not that you won’t get tired eventually - you will. But the goal is to finish long runs feeling somewhat fresh, like you could do more.
My all-day pace usually means power hiking the hills and finding a nice easy run pace for the flats and the downhills. Maybe occasionally hiking a flat or a down if I’m eating something or need a break.
Last Friday, I ran the middle 11 of my 22 miles with my husband and another friend. It was nice to have the company…the time went by quickly. However, I had a hard time finding and sticking to my all-day pace. Because I was not leading, I was trying to adjust to the pace of the group. It was a combination of hiking and running, which is what my all-day pace includes, but because someone else was setting the pace, I found it difficult to tune into how fast I needed to go.
In addition, I get self-conscious about slowing other people down, so I probably pushed harder than I should have for a run that I wanted to finish feeling fresh. Anyway, all of this is to say that while we weren’t going fast, I felt off because I wasn’t letting myself go by feel.
Going by feel.
Sometimes when I’m with others it’s easy to stop paying attention to my inner signals. When I pace by feel…running where it feels good, hiking where it feels good, I can find an all-day pace. It feels flowy. It’s an exercise in presence. And oddly, when I run at my all-day pace, I can cover the distance feeling fresh…which in the end will help me move for longer and slow down less. Over a long distance this translates to going faster!
Imagine an electric car that has just enough power to go a certain distance, let’s say 100 miles. If you keep a steady, even pace that’s not too fast, that stored power will last you the full 100 miles. If you can go a little slower, you might eek out 110 miles. But if you find yourself speeding here, slowing there, and blasting up hills, that stored power might only last you 80, or 85 miles. Sure, the faster ride may be thrilling, but you’ll burn through your energy reserves faster and end up with the gauge on empty sooner.
Go slow to go fast.
In an ultramarathon, it’s not really how fast I go that will determine my finish time (or whether I finish at all). What’s important is how little I slow down. If I burn through too much energy in the first 50 miles, the last 50 is going to be slow and painful. The pain and fatigue will happen anyway, but if I can conserve energy early on by moving slower, I’ll likely slow down less in the second half. Plus, when I’m going slower I can eat and drink more, which is essential to having energy later on.
I like the idea of going slow to go fast. It sounds wise. I’d like to move steadily and slowly, taking my time, and feeling better throughout the race as a result. I like the idea of being present to what my body wants to do in the moment, and flowing with that. My body will tell me.
Of course, I’m going to draw a parallel here…to any area in your life where you struggle with pushing too hard and depleting your energy. It could be in a change you’re making, or a goal you’re working towards. It can be how you pace your work day. Or how you regulate your energy in a relationship with someone else. If you find yourself feeling drained or suddenly fatigued, not wanting to go any further, check in and see whether you’ve been going harder or faster than really feels sustainable.
Maybe it’s not about speed. Maybe it’s about feeling in tune with what YOU need and not needing to please everyone around you. Or perhaps it’s speaking out about what’s important to you. Letting people know what’s real and alive for you.
You might consider going slow to go fast. There’s a deliciousness in finding that sustainable pace that you can maintain for a long time. The pace that feels just right to you. That ‘just right’ feeling is worth a lot. You might just find yourself outlasting those around you who are moving faster, but not sustainably.
Go slow to go fast. If you needed to hear this today, this one’s for you. Where in your life could you slow down a little and pace yourself by feel?
Want to find YOUR all-day pace? Click here to schedule a free connection call with me. And for more juicy life stuff, check out my podcast, coming home (to yourself). As always, may your week be filled with self-love and rich insights. With love, Amy ♡♡♡