The Dublin Marathon, which traditionally takes place on the October bank holiday weekend, marks the descent into the gloomy Irish winter. The clocks go back the night before, and people mentally switch and get ready for the run into Christmas.
I’ve raced it twice, in 2008 and 2010, and as my phone was pinging on Sunday morning with photos and videos of friends racing, I was green with envy and found myself wondering about having another cut at it. It’s a great race – the course is not too hard and yet not too easy either. And boy do Dubliners turn out in force to give their support.
Racing 26.2 miles is no joke and those who cross the finish line have accomplished something that they can be proud of and look back on fondly. The strange thing about most athletes is that the memory and meaning fades quickly as they set their sights on what’s next.
In 2008 and 2010 I had an injury-free preparation over four months. Looking back over my records I ran on average 35 miles a week, spread out over five to six runs, with at least one day off. In 2010 I started visiting a sports therapist every three to four weeks for the preventative maintenance needed to keep niggles turning into something more serious – a practice I’ve continued for triathlon.
On each occasion I was in very good nick by the time I reached the start line, and was able to enjoy most of the race, with the enduring coming once I hit that uninvited guest – the wall. On both occasions I was more than happy with my time. I clocked 3 hours 41 minutes in 2010 which was just a minute faster than my previous effort.
Apart from the actual training and the efforts to remain injury free, by far the most important thing for me was to get my weight down to around 11.5 stone, as less weight means more speed. This meant stepping on the scales every morning, cutting out junk and staying away from the sauce.
Whatever about reaching the finish, there’s a heap of work and self-discipline required to just show up at the start line with your game face on. Do the prep though and you’ll get your reward.
In every race I’ve competed in – be it running or triathlon – I’ve always marvelled at the fact that once the gun goes you’re completely on your own and no amount of support or encouragement is going to make one bit of difference when you’re in trouble. I know how bad I’ve felt at times, even when I’ve been more than well prepared. But what about those who aren’t well prepared? All of the photos in my WhatsApp were of smiling faces and those living their best lives. None of them featured those who were having a nightmare, be it through injury or illness. Any time I’ve raced I’ve always noticed people in distress at the side of the road or in agony in the massage tents.
My sports therapist used to work in the massage tents on race day. He observed that many of those who were in a bad way had either cut corners and were not prepared or else had no business even attempting a marathon.
The consequences of racing without being ready for it are considerable and can range from muscle tears, stress fractures and joint injuries to more sinister cardiovascular and heart-related issues. And that’s all before you consider the potential impacts on mental health.
What has this got to do with business?
So, what has marathon running got to do with business? In my line of work I frequently come across stressed businesses that are attempting to do something similar to the underprepared marathon runner. Their leaders have ambition and are keen to grow an organisation that supports them and their ambitions. As the business grows they continue to operate as before and neglect to build the engine that will facilitate the growth. Here are some of the things I see:
1. Strategy
Many don’t have a coherent and coordinated growth strategy. They aren’t clear on why they are in business, what they are offering and who they want to do business with. This means that neither they nor the market know what they stand for.
Imagine setting out on a run without knowing where you were going.
2. Limiting beliefs
There’s a belief among some that business should be a grind and endurance fest and that it’s quite ok that everything is a struggle. This often manifests in underinvestment in product, process and people. It also means that they have no playbooks for running campaigns and winning business. Because of a lack of strategy as well as underinvestment, many of these leaders behave like infantry and not generals. They are always at the coalface, chasing their tails and dealing with today, when they should have their eyes on the horizon and sorting out tomorrow.
Successful marathon runners have a good training programme in place and know how the months leading up to the race will unfold. They also have a clear race day strategy which covers everything from pacing to nutrition.
3. Stress, struggle and stagnation
They struggle to win the contracts that fuel growth, which leads to a stressed and stagnating business. They tread water when it comes to servicing the mix of contracts that they currently have – primarily down to underinvestment in people. Ultimately they have no predictability regarding their growth and future. When they need to perform they are paralysed, vulnerable and everything is difficult.
A serious runner will put all the blocks in place to ensure that they are able to perform on the day. If they doubt that they will be able to do themselves justice they will give it a miss and wait until the conditions are right.
Build the engine
Building the engine for your business will take time – longer than the four months it took for me to train for the marathon. The benefits of being clear on vision, developing products that resonate as well as people who can sell and deliver them will lead to a heathy business that is growing, thriving and under control.
What Now?
Building a solid growth engine that helps you win the right contracts will improve both your health and that of your business. If you would like to know more about how I can help you do this click on the link below for a chat. You can also take this health check which will give you a quick assessment on your business development fundamentals.
