TRAIN STRATEGIC, FINISH STRONG
Identity-Based Physiology
For years, I thought the toughest part of running was climbing the rocky hills on the trail. Then I realized the real climb happens long before I lace up my shoes. It happens at my desk, in the middle of a workday, and it slowly drains the energy I spent the night rebuilding. Turns out my laptop is the hill I never trained for.
As a trail runner, I understand the rhythm of training: push hard, recover, wake up feeling stronger. But lately I've noticed my career runs the same way. And there's a name for it: Identity-Based Physiology. Yes, working and training are the same for me. I'm just wired this way. Set a goal. Hit the goal. Repeat. It's not punishment; it's play. Leveling up, progress, accomplishments... it's my favorite game. My therapist might call it something else. I call it efficient.
This year though, Spring Training showed a crack in the plan. Sleep is adequate. Legs feel good. But by late afternoon? My energy ghosts me. Just gone. No note, no text, no "hey, I'll be back." Somewhere between inbox pings and calendar alerts, the trail strength vanishes like snacks in the office kitchen. (You know the ones. Someone puts out a box of donuts, and it's a crime scene by 10:15.)
So I ask myself: How do I win a trail race? I train. I track my practice progress. I don't show up on race day hoping for the best and winging it on vibes (although I did do something similar last month.) So why am I doing that with my workday? How do I conserve energy during the climb at work so I can still fly at the end of the day?
Borrowed Tactics from Racing:
I track what moves the needle. Quick check-ins on progress and energy levels throughout the day. Not just box-checking a to-do list so I can feel productive while my brain melts. Real tracking. "Did this actually move something forward, or did I just answer emails and call it leadership?"
I notice what wrecks my mood. Then I take a breather and move. A quick run outside. Water the plants. Three 5-minute circuits throughout the morning. Because here's what I know: sitting in a chair for four hours doesn't make me focused. It makes me furniture. Circulation beats stagnation every time.
I eat like energy matters. Real food. Water. Electrolytes and a few smart supplements. Coffee and chocolate earn a spot, but not the driver's seat. (Look, I love coffee. But I've learned the difference between "fueling" and "coping." The line is thinner than I'd like to admit.)
I pace. I rest.I treat recovery like it's part of the job, because it is. This one was the hardest to accept. Resting during a workday feels like slacking. It's not. It's strategy. It’s deep work vs. mindless tasks for decompression. Time blocks for focused work then flow tasks. Just like running - focused circuits then flow….it’s a rhythm. AND the best way for productivity and energy conservation.
The shift that lands.
From "Train Hard , Finish Strong" to "Train Strategic , Finish Strong." I stopped trying to be a superhero and started pacing myself like a pro. Less grind, more flow. I protect the engine that gets me across both finish lines, the trail's and the workday's. And I’ve got energy left over at the end of a productive workday for a workout to optimize my health + fitness.
The hard part isn't the effort. The hard part is backing off the accelerator a bit, just long enough to realize that pacing isn't lazy or weak. It's how you win the race.
