The Pursuit of Purpose
(By Nicholas A. Stanko) Mile after mile, his pursuit lies within. Day after day as the clock ticks, his stride increases: some days light, others heavy. The time alone provides space for thought on varying topics: some simple, some complex, some worthless, others worthy.
Today is a simple day allowing for external thoughts and little internal. His afternoon run, an easy 12 miles, lies ahead. The day is overcast, with a crispness to the early fall air. Tired from yesterday's effort, he sets off slowly, easing into his run and thoughts.
The runner's observers know little of what lies within. They see his shell and, being non-runners, have little to refer to as he trots down the street. His body flows without seeming effort over the ground, but inside tired muscles ache and slowly adjust to the day's task. Still as he passes car after car, person after person, nothing on the surface changes ... same runner, same shoes, same motion.
Mile after mile passes. He runs over blacktop, dirt, more blacktop, back to the dirt he loves and so on. As the surface changes, his exterior to others remains the same. Whether observers have experience to base their views on or not, their assumptions are based only on his surface. They cannot explain fully what lies within.
More than halfway into the run, things pick up. He feels normal and ready to roll. As flat ground turns to rolling hills, his stride changes, increasing slightly as he accents uphill.
To the average viewer nothing changes, but internally his body adjusts with little thought needed. At a comfortable pace, the surface has little effect on him.
Today's run ends and all surfaces have changed little.
***
Only he sees his day's first run ... on a treadmill. Why would he stare at a wall 40 minutes each morning when he could complete the task outdoors on a peaceful morning? He runs in the solitude of his basement to perfect his craft.
As a young runner, his stride stretched beyond his means. His effort pushed his body to its limits. Without that discomfort, where he would be today? The treadmill allows him to realign his stride and refocus thoughts on his craft.
As the pace accelerates with technology's help, his stride adjusts to the confined surface. Compared to running on open roads, the treadmill forces him to shorten and quicken his stride. This faster turnover through the years has established a more-economical stride, reducing injuries and increasing fitness. The quality of these morning runs will increase his chances when the time comes.
Quickly the run nears its end. Dashboard digits provide constant feedback, but to him this data is on the surface; what matters is how he feels inside. Did yesterday's effort take too much out of him? Will the afternoon run be a struggle or a breeze?
Perfecting his craft is beyond the surface seen by observers. To them running is running; what more can you do?
Devoting one's life to a craft can only be understood by an artist in similar shoes. To anyone else it's a pretty picture, a jog through the park, a lesson on the water-cycle.
The craft just below the surface is where the creator develops specific skills. A sculptor does so to communicate ideas in stone, a writer to do so in words.
While young he only saw running's surface. He lacked understanding of the art. He ran hard when he needed to and easy when he couldn't run hard. But as time passed, he learned there was more to his art then just what the eye can see. This took him deeper into his running.
As the treadmill decelerates, his stride slows and breathing returns to a normal rhythm. His focus on craft has refined his pursuit.
***
A few runs have passed: some hard, some easy. Today's effort stirs emotion in him that few runs do. The effort required will only be possible through intense concentration and a desire to push beyond what is comfortable. As he stretches beforehand, he knows today's run is a major piece to his training puzzle.
His watch beeps and he takes off quickly. The first few miles will be more of a warmup than anything, allowing his body to acclimate to the task at hand. The first five miles are done before he knows it.
He speeds up to goal pace and the true test gets underway. Near mile six he feels like he's pushing to his max, but when he reads his watch he sees his body is still adjusting to the tempo. As he progresses through the run, his effort begins to feel normal and pace increases.
As he reads his watch for the next few miles he builds confidence, allowing him to dig deeper.
Cruising over dirt roads, hill after hill, his pace alters slightly from mile to mile. His breathing remains steady, and although he's been running for more 15 miles his stride and exterior look the same. Internally his body begins to tire, but with concentration he keeps the pace even.
Approaching 12 miles at his goal race pace, he digs deeper to speed up and finish feeling he has pushed to his maximum. The road turns to blacktop and the hills grow higher as the finish comes into sight.
Today's long run is a major part of the big picture. Each day has a specific purpose: some easy, some hard. All parts of his training are intended to work together to develop a complete athlete. Without certain pieces, the puzzle would fall apart and be useless.
Often a coach will structure a runner's training to make the parts fit. By combining long runs, easy days, tempo runs, hill workouts, track intervals, etc., he or she hopes to structure a plan that allows an athlete to be in top form on race day.
In the hope to better understand his pursuit of purpose, he has chosen to personally structure his training using the help of experienced runners, personal experiences and other sources of information.
Below the surface and craft of an object lies structure, the beginning of parts that make up the whole. At this level, complexity rises greatly. Various pieces must be used and others left out. Decisions vary as new experiences, external factors and more affect how the work is composed.
As he stops his watch to see his final mile split, he breathes a sigh of relief. Numbers correspond to the level of quality he put in. Jogging the last mile home lets his body adjust to a normal resting level.
He knows he'll have good and bad days. Today was a good day; the synchronization of his mind, body and spirit produced a quality effort. On days that are not so good, at least one of the three is off. Achieving this kind of quality happens just a few times a year.
Making conscious adjustments to the structure of his pursuit over time allows him to continuously push his mind, body and spirit to their max.
***
He has devoted much of his life for years to pursue a purpose. Some months his training focuses on 5K and 10K distances, other months the marathon, others some distance in between. Whatever the idiom, the goal is to get as much out of his body, mind and spirit as possible.
His idiom for months has been racing the marathon. For week after week of 100 miles and more, he's pursued his goals. His family stands by his side, putting up with the hours of training and the tiredness that comes afterward. They are saints and he is thankful for their support every step of the way.
How long will this pursuit last? Only time will tell.
As he jogs a four-mile warmup to the track, he curses the wind and knows today's goal times will be hard to reach. He's convinced the wind will be against him all the way, even though he will be running in circles.
After a few strides and drills, he is off on his first of eight 800s. The pace feels quick, but as he looks at first-lap split he knows he needs to keep pushing. The wind seems to come from every direction. Today is not his day.
Halfway through the workout, nothing has changed. He keeps pushing lap after lap, accepting the fact his times are a little slow. He knows deep down he is putting in the quality effort needed.
Not only is he having to face the wind, he is tired from the quantity of running he has put his body through for months. Here is where marathon training separates itself from the other distances. There is no substitute for a high quantity of quality miles. He must get his body used to running hard when tired. Running twice a day, week after week, month after month and year after year, is the only way to do it.
This usage of idiom refers to the style or techniques common to a genre. The specific words, images, movements, etc. used by creators form a personal style. At the level of idiom, the common structure, craft and surface become more personal because creators have power to add their personal influences to the work. They are feeling things out and making decisions based on their mind, body and spirit.
He realizes this is an emotional low day as he starts his eighth 800. Nothing is flowing smoothly. He has pushed his body using his mind through each repeat. His training is no different from life itself. As his college coach would say, “Life will have its ups and down, and the closer one keeps their emotions to the middle, the better off they will be.”
Before he knows it, his work is done for the day. An easy four-mile jog home, racing shoes in hand, brings time to reflect on random thoughts from the day.
After his typical 5:30 morning run, a long day at work and time spent developing a personal idiom, he looks forward to spending time with his wife and daughter.
***
Overthe years his running has changed slightly here and there. He has had great and not-so-great days, months and years. Through it all he has developed 10 Commandments to help keep him on track: consistency, hard training, varied training, recovering, eating well, strength training, periodization, varied terrain, focusing on long-term development and enjoying the process.
He knows there is more to his journey than these commandments, but somehow they have provided a foundation for his work.
As today's midweek 15-mile run comes to a close, there is still work to be done. For 20 minutes he performs simple exercises to develop overall strength. Depending on his energy after running, once or twice a week he takes time to do them. Some days, though, all he has is left on the roads.
His routine changes over time but it always sticks to the basics. Simple body-weight exercises like push ups, sit ups, squats, etc. is all he feels he needs.
After exercising in the garage, he fills a bucket with ice from the fridge and proceeds upstairs for a 15-minute ice bath. This is another element that will help him achieve what he has set out to do. These baths become easier to handle as his body adjusts to them. Submerging himself to his hips, the bath is frigid but within a few minutes bearable.
Although each runner he will compete against is different, he knows most will incorporate many of his “10 Commandments” in their training. All will be consistent, day after day putting in work needed to be their best.
They will push themselves past the comfort level -- discomfort more bearable as they get used to it, but still there. To stay healthy they will vary terrain they run on, eat well-balanced diets, include strength-training programs and take easy recovery days to let their bodies heal from hard training.
They will periodize their efforts throughout the year, depending on their objectives within each time frame. Each athlete will have ups and downs and will focus on long-term development.
And like himself, his competitors will more than enjoy the training and racing it takes to reach their potential.
The quality of each runner's training will take a form that accommodates their particular strengths and weakness. Trying to train exactly like someone else will reduce the quality of one's running.
Runners must pay attention to what works for them and follow internal cues to determine their ratio of training elements. By using the proper ratio, they will be able to perform at their highest level. Without these elements, they will be incomplete and never reach full form.
By focusing on a personal idiom to work within, a creator can then decide what form in the end he or she will use. A two-dimensional artist may choose ink, charcoal, paint, watercolor, pencil ... the list goes on. Runners may choose different distances, turf, track, trails ... the list goes on.
His legs have benefited from the 15 minutes of ice water and will thank him in days to come. Paying attention to details helps him consistently perform at top level. Years of work through personal idioms have developed his craft's structure. By arranging the elements of his training into a complete form, his pursuit of purpose and quality lies just over the horizon.
***
At 4:35 a.m. the alarm sounds on his watch. A tender hamstring during the previous few weeks has made him anxious, but over the past few days a calmness has taken over as the tenderness has passed. Going through the same race routine he has done for years, nothing is new. It's just another day to him.
The purpose of the last year is here, and as he does his final strides everything seems in place. He kisses his wife and daughter one last time, and chats for a minute with his family before the gun goes off to start the U.S. Olympic Men's Marathon Trials. The sun has yet to rise as the runners stand in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral on 50th Street, New York City.
For the next 26.2 miles he will focus on the task at hand and let all his work come together. This moment is what motivates him to consistently pursue his goals. There are days when it all comes together and days it doesn't. All he can do at this point is hope for the best.
Early miles pass easily. He has found a comfortable rhythm among runners similar to himself. At this point in the race nothing major should happen and nothing is -- to their knowledge.
As they pass mile 5.5, the group notices one of their fellow runners is laying on the roadside. They converse for a second wondering who it is. Being so early in the race, it can't be anything but a minor injury.
Eight or so miles into the race he takes fluids at an aid station. He wanted nothing more than a sip, but ended up getting more than he bargained for. A few minutes later the pain starts. His stomach cramp intensifies with each step.
The idea going into the race was to run within himself. He had trained well and was confident his fitness would let him perform at a higher level than ever before. Everything -- form, idiom, structure, craft and surface -- played an important role and was planned. Without them he would be nothing.
An idea that comes from within can have great power. If used with a purpose and taken through the stages of form, idiom, structure, craft and surface, it can communicate a handful of information to observers. This type of idea is built up, layer on layer, and its content has potential to become quality. Ideas of this caliber are complex and developed over years through intrinsic learning and authentic experiences.
Ideas can change gradually ... or like a bat out of hell.
***
A few miles have passed since the side stitch began and nothing's changed. He has mulled dropping out and calling it a day, but a fellow runner encourages him to continue, saying it will go away. The halfway mark is approaching with things no better.
His idea of a quality day changed drastically within minutes. Step by step, his purpose shifted from performing at his highest level to just being able to finish the race. A pain like this is rare for him, but when it happens it happens. He knows by now there is nothing he can do.
A purpose can be used to communicate ideas through a chosen medium. A purpose of this nature -- developed over years, through intrinsic learning and authentic experience -- has the potential to become quality. The purpose or idea of a creation comes from within a creator combining experiences with elements learned through studying the surface, craft, structure, idiom and form.
As the miles pass he no longer looks at his watch. It is hard to concentrate on running hard and he has lost contact with the group whose pace had once been so comfortable.
Throughout his journey he has drawn nearer his pursuit of purpose. Now he must rely on his basic instincts of just running hard, a place where his journey began many years ago.
As he enters the final miles of the race, reality sinks in. He will finish and walk away, knowing he did everything he could.
His pursuit of purpose ends, and thus begins again.
***
Relaxing with family and friends hours after the race, the news comes that the runner laying on the roadside passed away. Out of the group of elite runners, he was one of the best -- a runner who was passionately pursuing a dream.
Sitting in disbelief with his wife and friends drinking a beer, nothing from the day makes sense. Someone so special. Someone so happy. Someone so passionate about his purpose was no longer with them.
The day was filled with runners who fulfilled their purpose, though some did not. Either way, their pursuits will continue until the day they too pass on to a new life. The amount of quality through that journey will never be fully understood. One can only hope that when they too pass, they move on feeling that their pursuit of purpose was of quality.
As he moves forward, what quality is one day may not be the same the next. Over the years this quality will change with new experiences and knowledge.
He is thankful for the changing world he lives in, which allows him to better understand the purpose he is pursuing. The surface that brought him to the craft, structure, idiom, form, idea and purpose will constantly remind him of how human and personal quality can be to an individual. As his experiences evolve his concept of quality will never rest, and because of this change, he will always find room for improvement.
Moving on is not easy, but the sooner it happens the better. New experiences will develop new awareness, definitions for quality and how it can contribute to his pursuit of purpose in whatever realm he puts his mind, body and spirit into.
The surface, craft, structure, idiom, form, idea and purpose will never fail to provide a solid foundation to work from in whatever pursuit of purpose and quality.
Writer Nick Stanko, Michigan Runner magazine's 2005 Runner of the Year, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Men's Marathon Trials with a 2:20:37 in Chicago in 2006. He completed the course in New York Nov. 3 in 2:27:23. MR
Caption: Nick Stanko competes in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Men’s Marathon, Nov. 3, 2007.
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