There is a danger in athletics of overestimating our own level of fitness. Linda is 50-pounds overweight and has never run around the block, but is confident that she's ready for a competitive marathon right now. Joe is six feet tall, 112 pounds and doesn't lift weights, but has a vision of being the new Mr. Olympia by next week.
These are obvious examples of having a false impression of current fitness level.
Now, consider the woman who ran a fast 10K race a couple years ago, then redirected her priorities to the arrival of a new baby or a business start up. Or the guy who remembers being able to bench-press 270 pounds in college ten years ago and has in his mind, "I'm still there!"
If we fail to accurately assess our starting fitness level, progress is easily missed and we'll be disappointed because we see more failures than gains. It's dangerous - physically and mentally - to operate where we think we are - or wish we were.
If I get lazy for a few months and my training pace slips from seven minutes a mile to nine, it will bug me. If I get stuck in regret, I will do nothing and my condition will continue to deteriorate. If I stubbornly and ignorantly hold to the idea that I am still able to run seven-minute miles, I will either hurt myself or quit trying out of frustration.
There is good news. Although the front-end fitness inventory is a bit disappointing, it sets the stage for genuine improvement. By accepting that a nine-minute mile is where I am at that time, improving to eight-and-a-half becomes a reason to celebrate and keeps me motivated.
I encourage you to take an honest inventory of your current fitness level, accept it for what it is and move forward with setting milestones to help you achieve that ultimate goal. The distance from where you are to where you want to be is an exciting journey that you get to undertake.
Seeing your own improvement is rewarding and one of the keys to seeing that improvement is knowing exactly where you started! Be honest about your current abilities, and then make a plan to take you where you want to be. Put the plan into action and enjoy the results!
