I’m not running a marathon today.
It wasn’t for lack of trying – I registered at the end of 2016 for today’s Grand Rapids Marathon. It felt like the right big goal to help me maintain a strong focus on my own health as I approached 40. I was confident that my understanding of habit, consistency, and deliberate practice, along with a long on-ramp, would carry me to my goal.
Various unforeseeable mountains got in my way, and prevented me from reaching my goal. I decided in August to defer my registration for a year.
Since then, I’ve redesigned my running goals for a different outcome. As I often tell my singers, I care more about them singing in 5 or 25 years than I do about today’s rehearsal. By the same token, I care more about my own overall physical health than I do about finishing a particular race.
My goal now: run 4 days a week. I don’t care about increasing mileage, meeting pace or distance goals. I listen to my body and do what’s right for it. And I do it consistently. With that goal, I believe I’m better off long-term, and even more likely to be well-prepared for a marathon down the road.
It seems like musicians are always putting marathons ahead of themselves: special events, bigger arias, world travel, audition success, festival performances. These are all noble and worthwhile. I love the challenges they provide for my students–and for me.
But sometimes it’s worth pausing and recognizing that it is just as noble to pursue consistency. Consistent music-making. Consistent practice.
Sometimes we can accomplish more long-term with consistency than with big goals.