Tune in to get ahead!

When I head out for a run I make sure I’ve got the gear I need to have the best run possible:

• pretty sneakers
• FlipBelt
• Chapstick
• iPhone with kickass playlist
• earbuds
• running sunglasses and Nova Scotia flag Trail Wrap (weather permitting)

There’s one more thing that I picked up in the last year that has become the #1 item I need for a wicked workout: my inner coach. My IC has become my guiding force every time I hit the road and I’m getting faster and stronger, so I never leave home without it.

Where did I find this Inner Coach? She was always there, just hiding in the background until I connected with Dr. Jason Karp and he shared his book The Inner Runner with me. I knew I was going to be attending his sessions at CanFitPro FitExpo in Vancouver so I devoured his words and my Inner Coach joined me for the first time on the run workshop through Stanley Park we did as a group.

Jason encouraged us to leave our phones and Garmins alone for the run. We stopped periodically to enjoy the view, take a breath, and reconnect with why we started running in the first place. He reminded me to focus on the joy of putting one foot in front of the other, and to let that inner voice guide me.

My Inner Coach became louder after I read Eric Orton’s The Cool Impossible. Here was another elite runner encouraging me to enjoy the world on a run instead of tuning out. Tuning in has become my focus and my speed is increasing and my soul is calmer. I ran the Bread Run 5k last weekend which is a challenging course, but I had a fantastic time because I sang along with my power anthems and I maybe even danced a few strides while enjoying the farmland around me and taking time to thank the police and safety volunteers patrolling the route. I could have had a better time, but I would have missed the chilly morning air and the smell of fresh-cut lawns.

So, what’s your favourite fitness accessory? How tuned in are you during your workouts? What one thing has made the biggest difference in your performance?