The 75th Edition

Our obsession with optimising our training, could be our biggest hindrance.

This week’s Newsletter took me a little longer to write. So it’s a tad late. And actually, I think that’s funny given this week’s topic…

Something to Think About

You don’t need to be doing an impressive amount every day to be moving forward.

Something to Ask Yourself

Are you expecting robot-level consistency from your human body and mind?

Personal Lesson

When I look back at my younger self, one thing stands out: I was harsh on myself. Relentless. I still can be of course, but it used to be that if I slept in, if I felt tired, I’d immediately label it as failure. Effort didn’t count unless it looked flawless. I didn’t realise how unsustainable that was because I assumed discipline meant pressure and criticism.

Over the years, my perspective’s changed. Not because I’ve become less driven, but because I finally understood something simple: genuine effort is enough. Not perfect output or endless optimisation, just honest effort. When that’s there, you don’t need to bully yourself into more. You need composure, not punishment.

These days I allow myself to be human. Some days a session feels smooth and I naturally push, other days I can tell my body needs something gentler. I still value structured training, but I’ve learned that understanding myself helps me navigate the plan more effectively. It means I can manage the different phases of my running without slipping back into that old, harsh mindset. A bit of intuitive awareness doesn’t replace good coaching or solid programming, but it does make the whole journey more sustainable, and far more realistic for an actual human being.

Running – Life’s Metaphor

Running reminds us that progress isn’t produced by optimisation alone. It comes from showing up with honesty, adjusting where needed, and staying composed. You can’t force adaptation; you respond to it.

Final Thoughts

Optimising every corner of your life is overrated. You’re not failing if you’re not doing a huge amount every day. You’re not behind because you got sick, lost motivation, or had a week where training felt flat. That’s human.

We’re runners, which means we’re used to measurable numbers telling us exactly where we stand. But numbers don’t tell the full story. They don’t reflect the days where doing less was the right call. They don’t show the value of restraint, or the importance of listening to your body when the plan isn’t matching reality.

Treat yourself like a person, not a robot. Humans fluctuate. Humans get tired. We sometimes need to slow down, and sometimes feel the urge to push. Training works best when you work with those rhythms.

The more you understand yourself, the easier it becomes to train in a way you can actually maintain. Less optimisation, more awareness. Less pressure, more composure. That’s where long term progress really comes from.

Thanks for reading and subscribing!

Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself.

Tommy 🙂