Negative Split… Your Life!

In the world of running, cycling, swimming, etc. we have terminology called a ‘negative split’. It’s when a racer runs the second half or end of a race faster than they ran the first half. The other day, while I was doddling along on just another slow run, I was contemplating a statement that one of my Ironheads teammates, super fast master David Ciaverella, made on his blog (http://try3sports.blogspot.com/). Dave asked if at 43, he could continue to get faster and keep setting PR’s. While it’s a fact that old-man time simply won’t let us continue to get faster as we age, we don’t necessarily have to slow down. That’s when I decided it would be cool to ‘negative split’ my life. No, I don’t really want to age faster in the second half, but I don’t want all my activities, high value experiences and fun to be memories from high school and college. Of course, this brings up a major question… how does one ‘negative split’ their life? What are the ingredients? I would love to hear your opinions, but first, let me also offer some of my own ideas.

One of the first things I thought of is that we can’t stop setting goals. I think many people set goals when they are young or they're making big life and career changes. But even small goals can be huge in terms of the benefit they give life. Some simple ones I’ve thought are setting a goal to learn something new, like a language or playing an instrument or cooking a new meal. I set a goal for myself to read more of the classics… and not for any self improvement, but just for enjoyment. Your goals can be about anything, but a lot of satisfaction can result from taking on new challenges and meeting them. Remember the golden rules about setting goals: start small, make it a stretch, but realistic, and set a time to meet it. As you get older, these goals should change to reflect your new stages of life and how you can maximize your experiences.

Another simple thing I’ve been trying to do is finding joy in the success of my friends, family and others.. Now, I have a huge family (and growing) and I value them immensely. It’s been REALLY rewarding to watch as some of my nieces and nephews took on some similar challenges in fitness that I have been undertaking for years. I’m almost more invested in their success, as measured less by time and more by their enjoyment, than in my own ‘racing’. As you get older and more experienced, pass along and share your knowledge, whatever it is. With the internet, we sometimes forget that our personal experiences, and not just the information, can add value. Helping other people develop their passions is powerful and the relationships will last a lifetime.

So these are just a couple of simple thoughts. Especially for those of us who are amateur athletes. How do you stay passionate as you get older (and probably slower). Shoot me your ideas on how to ‘Negative Split’ you life.