Run Your Own Race

When you’re training for a marathon, you have a lot of time to think. Who’s running faster than you? Who are you passing? Maybe you’re on pace to break your own personal best record. Or maybe, like me, you’re just wondering if you’ll be able to put one foot in front of the other enough times to cross the finish line without having to be picked up by the Medi-Vac vans!

This year, I ran my first Boston Marathon. Since I ran my first marathon in 2011, this has been a big goal for me. But life doesn’t always cooperate with the ideal path to your goals – financial or otherwise. Job losses, health concerns, family problems—all of these can make it more challenging to reach the “finish line,” whatever that represents for you. The important thing—and the thought I focused on during the marathon—is to run your own race.

Your Mileage May Vary

Leading up to a marathon, they say you should run at least 40 miles per week (peaking at 50). One month before Boston, I knew I was behind on my mile count due to a busy winter. We all know we need to prepare for our goals, but the holiday season can get us all off track with fitness and finances. I was confident I could run Boston, but like a saver who is counting on a bonus to meet a particular goal, I was counting on a weekend trip a month before the race to catch up on my training. I knew that on that weekend, I would have the time to do a long training run.

Then just a few steps into that run, I stumbled and severely pulled my hamstring. Ouch. What happens when you encounter a major roadblock like this on the path to your goals?

You have to adjust. Maybe you have to scale back your goal, or decide to achieve it at a slower pace. Most importantly, you have to focus on your path to your goal—not anyone else’s.

Seek Help Along the Way

I took my injury seriously and knew I needed help to determine how—and if!—I could still race. So I saw a doctor and worked on a plan. He determined that it could be safe for me to run Boston—as long as I followed certain parameters. I do the same thing for my clients who may have encountered roadblocks like a loss of income. It doesn’t necessarily mean that financial goals like buying a new home or saving a certain amount for retirement are impossible—but it is likely that the strategy needs to change.

Be Both Optimistic and Realistic

Leading up to the race, I was cautiously optimistic. My injury rehab and race training were going well, and it looked like I could run Boston as long as nothing else went wrong. I knew I was not going to beat my personal best time. But just being able to run Boston was an honor and I really wanted to take advantage of it if I could. I just hoped I wouldn’t be crossing the finish line in the paramedics’ van.

The day of the race brought one final challenge—the heat. It was 63 degrees at the start of the race and later climbed to almost 80 degrees. That’s perfect for spectators, but very hot for runners. As it turned out, nearly 10% of the runners needed medical attention that day. From the very beginning, I knew I needed to listen to my body and stay hydrated. I knew I had to follow my plan and “run my own race.”

Remember Your Priorities

Finally the starting gun went off! In the beginning of the first half, I felt pretty good, but the sun was beating down brightly on all of us. By mile 13, I was really worried. I didn’t feel great. I was looking down, pondering my situation, not sure if I would be able to finish.

Then I heard my name. It was my husband at that exact low point calling out my name, waving with a big smile on his face. It was great! It was a reminder that although the situation was challenging, I did have enough and I definitely was surrounded by the people who matter to me.

All of our resources are finite. However, when you know your priorities, you can see clearly where you should be ‘spending’ your resources.

My first priority was my health and my second was to not let myself or my husband down. Those were my goals. Just as you shouldn’t worry about keeping up with the Joneses with every new car or kitchen remodel, I didn’t worry about the runner next to me whose goal may have been to reach a personal best. So I kept going, and I finished.

I didn’t have a great time. I was slower than normal. But I ran my own race and finished without injury, so it was a success!

By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail

I will say that it was a very difficult race. The good thing about Boston is that most of the runners are very experienced—they have qualified to run this race by achieving a certain time. They have the experience to know the importance of preparation. Having a plan will always beat out having no plan—and that holds true for fitness and financial goals.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Halpern Financial, Inc.), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Halpern Financial, Inc.. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Halpern Financial, Inc. is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the Halpern Financial, Inc.’s current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request. Please Note: Halpern Financial, Inc.does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Halpern Financial, Inc.’sweb site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.