Massive Goals

Typhoon Training - Uncommon commitment

Last night we experienced a typhoon that has been coming up through Japan, wreaking havoc as it goes.  The news reported wind speeds of almost 200 km per hour, and there was serious damage to buildings and injury to people.  Trains were cancelled, planes were grounded and schools were dismissed, but training still went on.

Last night, and again this morning, I went out in wind and rain amid the flying debris and storm to pursue my goals.  I had scheduled an 11km run for last night and then another for this morning, and since my training program is set for all weather conditions, I kept it going.

It started out quite dismal as I ran out into the dark storm last night but very quickly I fell into a rhythm and began to enjoy myself.  I watched people scampering from cars to buildings like crabs escaping from a wave.  I marvelled as rubbish bins tumbled down the road and birds flew backwards.  I felt the sting of the rain on my cheeks and the wind in my eyes.  Then after less than an hour I returned home, tired, satisfied, and unharmed. 

Along the way I developed a mental image of being interviewed after a successful race somewhere in the future.  The reporter asked me what my secret was and I told him that the secret to my success was Typhoon Training.  Of course this is not the whole story.  The truth is that I train in whatever weather I meet.  This past year I have trained in snow, rain, extreme humidity, baking temperatures, wind, and of course perfect days.  I aim for consistent, predictable, progressive training and so I can’t let anything, even a typhoon, get in the way.

This sort of commitment is uncommon in the world, but so is real success.  Anyone can be committed when things are perfect, but it takes that bit extra to persist when the situation deteriorates.  This extra bit can make all of the difference:

1. It provides the extra training oportunity that others miss by bailing out.
2. It provides extreme training, which hardens your ability to perform in more moderate conditions
3. It provides experience of all conditions which is necessary because sometimes we have to perform in all sorts of adverse conditions
4. It boosts your self esteem and capability as you become more aware of what you can actually do.

This Typhoon Training concept is not limitted to slightly crazed running plans.  It is also applicable to most other pursuits.  Whenever you find yourself pursuing a goal, there is a chance that conditions may deteriorate and you find yourself in a less than desirable situation.  If you are able to stick to your plan and persist no matter what you face, you stand a good chance of experiencing the same sort of benefits that I described. 

Typhoon Training is not reckless thrill seeking.  It is not foolishly endangering yourself and others.  It is about calculating risks and if at all possible, sticking to your plan, come what may.  Typhoon Training can put us ahead of those who wait out the storms.  And if nothing else, it can be a whole lot of fun.

What sort of situations have you found yourself in, that require Typhoon training, to keep you going forward?

Thanks

Tom