I'M JUST BUILT LIKE THIS
If you have a drive to succeed it permeates into everything you do. Understanding who you are in all your glory takes time. But take the time to learn how you're built. I did. And here it is.
Last year in the midst of all that was going on in my life I needed a distraction. So I decided to run a 10k. My first ever! I’m a sprinter really and definitely not a “runner” but I needed something to occupy my mind. I needed something to focus on other tan losing my livelihood. Something for my drive to aim for.
My wife suggested a 10k run and the moment I heard that I was like “Yes” I have to do that. And mainly because I didn’t know if I actually could.
For context. My wife is not a “runner” either, but she can run. She’s done 4 marathons. With the quickest time at 3:43m. Her 10k is 43 minutes and she even done 100K at 13:39:50.
But for me. A 100 metre runner. 10k is a marathon. It was booked for July 2023 and I had about 5 weeks to train. I started running to get ready and by day 3 I had injured both my knees.
Badly.
For context I have very tight IT bands. The tendon on the outside of the knee and running a distance more that 400m feels like they a ripping off the sides of my knees.
Anyway. I challenged myself and come hell or high water I was going to do that run.
In immense pain I did it and managed to get through the course in a time of -
- But there was a problem. I mean It was nice my kids and wife were waiting for me and I loved getting my Medal. But the moment I finished the run I wasn’t proud. I wasn’t thinking about what I had achieved or the pain I was in.. The moment I crossed the line my first thought was.
“I’m not even out of breath. I can beat that time.”
And I got my wife to sign me up for 2024.
For a whole year I’ve been consumed by the fact I knew I could beat that time. I ad too. 2024 comes along and although I don’t do the July 10k because my son had football in Europe and we were there supporting him. The next run is the vitality 10k September 2024
I was ready. I had my strategy down and everything. It may not make sense for some people but this is what my Strat was.
Don’t train. If your knees get damaged by training distance as you are not a distance runner and they can’t take it. Then don’t train. And I didn’t.
I knew I just had to do it. I turned up a week ago to take on the course, and with my wife running with me, I managed to take a full 8 minutes off my time and got -
- Now this time I was out of breath. This time although my knees didn’t start hurting until the last 2k I was tired (The strategy worked, mostly). I was able to push through, but it wasn’t easy.
You’d think I would be proud or happy that I’d taken so much time off but actually, you know what my first thought was when I saw the time?
“Damn! I could of got under an hour. I can beat this time.”
and I got my wife to sign me up to another in 2025.
And that’s the point.
It’s not about the race. The time. The achievement.
It’s Me!
I’ve realised. That’s just who I am. I just want more.
Push. Push. Push.
Drive. Drive. Drive.
Goal. Goal. Goal.
Achieve. Achieve. Achieve.
Work.
Succeed.
Win.
And never give up!
It could be seen as Toxic or just an absolute passion and determination to always do better (But that all depends on your class, skin colour and if Misandrist, racist - Although they can’t see it about themselves - Journalists think you’ve achieved more that you should have)
But it’s just who I am.
And after being dismantled and having to really look at my self.
I love who I am.
I hope you love who you are. Because the better you know yourself the better it will be for you and everyone around you.
I know me.
This is who I am…
…And I’m Just Built like this.
I had no doubt that you'd smash your old time this year. I have no doubt that you'll smash this year's time, next year
Love to the family, Noel
You are great and your wife is great too . And it’s wonderful that you will run again in 2025, you will never give in you are a winner ! Love it ❤️