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Wednesday Word – Talent


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The first Wednesday of each month, the Deb from Deb Runs will be providing a word about which to blog. Kind of like a nice little blog prompt. Posts can be fitness or health related, but don’t have to be, so really anyone can play along. Just be sure to link up with InLinkz on Deb’s main post, and share the love by reading and commenting on other’s participant’s posts.

This month’s word is TALENT

So what does “TALENT” even mean?

a natural ability to be good at something, especially, without being taught.

So are anyone of you runners “talented”?

But more importantly, does it matter?

Image result for talent quotes

In other words, if you have talent, you can be a decent runner. (Of course, “decent” is relative, right?) You may not have to run often or warm-up, or do drills.  It just comes naturally. You don’t have to work hard to get that sub 30 5k finish or sub 2 half marathon or even BQ.

Of course, in order to improve, PR, BQ, you need to be motivated to do those runs and drills, etc. For many runners, just finishing a race is good enough.  Just running for fun without worry about pace is perfectly fine. There are others who are driven and competitive. And your motivation can come and go. Your desire to long run long, run often or even sign up for races can change week to week, month to month and season to season.

And then there’s your attitude which I think overrides the other two. You know they say “it’s all in your head.” “It’s mind over matter.”  You could have the talent and the motivation but those paces just don’t happen. Those desired finish lines are elusive.

So when it comes to running, where do you excel?  Talent, motivation or attitude?  Which do you think is the most important?

For me, I think I have a little bit of all three.

Talent: I am not coordinated but I ran fastish even in my first year of running. (at least in my opinion…meaning that I ran a sub 30 5K). But I am not super talented. There are many in my age group who are much faster. I doubt that I will run a sub 2 half or could ever BQ.

29:30 – 2009 5k

Motivation: Again some here too. I try to get all my runs in each week because I do want to do well in my races and I do not want to get injured.  If I am part of a group, I will reluctantly do those drills (but never on my own.) I am not highly motivated because I will not get a coach, follow a plan, join a gym – all of which would probably make me a better runner.

occasionally there is a track workout

Attitude: I try to have a positive attitude about my running but I am often disappointed in my pace and the number of miles that I run each week. But I think that I have a better attitude when I race (though not always) and that has translated into successful racing.

Yes I will on my 3rd try have a course PR

Happy Running! Got talent? Please share your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 thoughts on “Wednesday Word – Talent”

  1. I wouldn’t say that I have talent as a runner, since I’m not fast at all, but I do try to have a positive attitude. Right now, I’m focused more on running and staying injury free so I always try to have a positive attitude when I go out for a run. I know I’m blessed to be able to run.

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  4. I completely agree “it is all in your head” if you convince yourself you are great-you will be great. I tell people all the time be careful what you tell yourself because you are listening. Great share and word to reflect on.

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  5. I think my motivation and attitude are my strong points, but there is (maybe) an itsy bit of talent….but any talent I have is most likely by default because of my height (long legs LOL). I think I’m slightly faster than “average,” but I’d never consider myself “fast” (though, as you said, that is all relative). I definitely am NOT a natural born athlete, and I’m alright with that 😉

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  8. Sadly, I have about zero actual talent. I have a plucky attitude and buckets of motivation, but I’m not at all a “good” runner, and I’m fairly sure it’s not in my cards to be one. That’s ok. I have fun all the same 🙂

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  9. I am definitely not talented when it comes to running. Most coaches say they’d rather have the person who works hard rather than the talent athlete — I suppose then I’m a coache’s dream (but let’s not ask Rachel, hmmm?).

    Seriously, I think that if a person is generally happy with their results, that’s the most important thing. Of course there are always disappointments, but they make the good results even sweeter.

    Of course it is also important to run your own race, so to speak.

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  10. To me its all about attitude, then motivation. Sure, you can be a talented runner but if you’re cocky or otherwise have a poor attitude then you’re demonstrating poor sportsmanship. I’d much rather be slow and have a positive attitude than be speedy and be rude and/or mean.

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  12. I def feel like your attitude is everything! You can have natural talent, but with a crummy attitude you won’t get far in many areas. Motivation can light your fire and help you put in the work if you want to improve.
    I think you should always be proud of your efforts and all the races you run! You are doing fantastic!

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