Just want to sharing the knowledge that i gain from a book and experience from my mentor. To become a runner, everyone have a five stages to go and the last stage is runner. First stage to become runner is the beginner. Beginner will just start involve in the road with slow and easy to stop. And it take time for the Beginner to develop or switch his/her mind to become a second stage that is the Jogger. Beginner take time to become a Jogger. Most of the Beginner who don't put the pressure on themselves seem to have an easier time staying with it. They simply walk or jog for 30-40 minutes every other day, they find themselces gently swept along in pattern of relaxation and good feeling. when the Beginners start addicted, and is the time he/she develop to becomes a Jogger.
Jogger feels secure with running.Rarely does jogger have a plan or goal. Most run a healthy diversion and don't feel the need to get anything more out of it. They just get out there when they can and do what they can. They might pick out some running tips from a more experienced running friends or ideas and unfortunately,it also the reasons to make them suffering of the injury cause the plan are no based on the jogger's own individual abilities. Jogger might go for the running event with the distance no longer than 10km. Even they no competitevely or for time improvement, a sense of competition may begin to develop. There are always injury due to the running plan and running technique will make the Jogger give up the running completely but usually they will start again after an extended layoff.
Competitor is the third stage to become runner. They start planning when they have their own goal to achieve.After a few races,Jogger begin to wonder how fast they can might run if they really trained.Here is the begin of the frustation and pressure. The competitive spirit is exciting and rewarding so it will make they run faster because of increased training. They will start seeking the information about the training, stretching, nutrition ,etc., and become somewhat of an expert on each.Occasionally they will run alone, but often they will seek out small groups or better runners to train with and fint they are making every workout a race; they will puch the pace to "Victory" or make others earn theirs. Once the competitive spirit has taken over the tend to lose sight of limitations. They begin wonder that small mileage can increase brought about a small improvement, and they will try large mileage increase to gain a large improvement. Although they read many times the need for rest, they feel that theirs is a special cases that no need as much recovery time as others mortals. For weeks they may feel tired most of the time, yet have trouble sleeping at night. Finally they push too far and break down with injury, sickness or fatigue, and either can't or don't want to run. At this point may feel betrayed by their body. Here they are trying to mold in into greatness and it won't respond. And they only can visualised the fitness that their train for few months slipping away,the goals going down the drains. If trying to make run through the problems, it will leads to the worse condition and new injuries and make them miss the very races they push themself so hard. And hopefully learn the lesson fromt the past. This time, experiencing some frustation and pain can help them to realize their limitation.
The fourth stage of become runner is the Athlete. As an athlete, they find more meaning in the drive to fullfill their potential than in compulsively collecting times and trophies. They finally got a handle on competition, and it's not the only motivation. Competitors search for races they can win,Athletes look for competition, but are no intent on a higher ranking or better performance. They thrive on a challenging competition that is run in the best way possible-from the inside put and they are, not incidentally, rewarded in the long run by faster times. Though once may have been a competitor who read everything and tried most of it, as an athlete they now read only what has practical value.When problems arise they look for literature on the subject by authors they trust. They reading ties into an overall plan and no longer sampling everyone's tips and tricks like treats out of the cookie jar. Planning is important. Although they are flexible,plot goals and race 6-9 months in advance. Whether they plan is written or "programmed" ,they know where they going. They may not known the exact vehicle they will take,but they know they can arrive. Athletes are not prefectly consistent. Sometimes they will slip back and become a competitor. After a series of success, they may become dissatisfied with performances that fall short of their goals. Some of them might be give up and quit and retire.Many continue to grow and move into the final and most rewarding stage, the runner.
Runner, the final stage of the running journey blends the best elements of all the previous stage. The runner balances the elements of fitness, competition , training and social life and blends running with the rest of his or her life. Running is now a natural part of their daily program- as is eating, sleeping or talking. They know them will get in the daily run although they may not know when. As a runner, they will enjoy the companionship of running with others, but most of their running will be done alone. Great statisfaction comes from being able to mold their body into form, and there is an art in combining just the right amounts of strength, endurance, form and preformance training. A race can be the opportunity to pull out deep hidden strenghts. Once they have learned these things, the joy lies not in the race, but in the running. Occasionally the runner is injured. They will sacrifice workouts,races and time goals to heal an injury early and get back to 100% as soon as possible.
As a runner you experience the enjoyment of each stage and retain the best of each of them. You relieve the beginner's excitement in disccovery, appreciate the jogger's balance of fitness and enthusiasm, share the competitor's ambition, and internalize the athlete's quest. Having consolidated and balanced all these stages, you appreciate the creative and positive aspects of each and let them enrich your running life.
Reference: Galloway's book on running and advice from Edan Syah..
