“I Have Always Had Big Dreams and Goals.” – Julien Webster
Over the years, athletes of all levels and fitness enthusiasts have given interviews and written articles.
The common thread is no matter the level of work and sacrifice is required.
Each person has their own definition of success. Each person has a passion for what they do, with no fear of pushing the limits.
There is no way to know what you can do unless you try.
To those who read the articles and do not exercise, I am not giving up on you.
One day, you will catch fire. You do not know what you are missing.
There is mental freedom which you can enjoy while out walking, running, or cycling.
I entered a marathon and on race day my goal was to be the last finisher (no overachiever). I was on target until the last mile when I saw another participant in front of me.
You never lose thoughts about competition as I shifted to thinking about closing the gap. It suppressed the feeling of discomfort as I had two-foot strikes at the other person’s one.
I found myself within striking distance as I reeled the person in.
The decision to pass came along with thoughts of how to overtake and not get caught. You can surprise yourself when you dig deep. I could pull away and put some space and maintained a lead.
I missed my goal and came in next to last. Oh well, maybe next time.
We are going to visit Julien to read about what has been working for her. I wrote the words at a point in time which has changed.
The goals and the dreams change over time, along with the outcome. Julien is continuing her journey after college.
I will add three of my favorite words: consistent, persistent, and insistent. The questions that follow apply to Julien, but as you read…. think about what would your answers be to the questions?
Julien runs in 2017 at Maryland
When did you realize that running was your sport of choice?
“I first started running back in elementary school. I didn’t enjoy it at first, but in high school I had fallen in love with it.”
What are some of the mental and physical benefits d you get from running?
“I honestly feel the best when I am out running. The high I get when out on a run doesn’t compare to anything else, and I just love it. I feel strong as well, and it is a real confidence booster.”
What is your motivation to remain in the sport?
“I have always had big dreams and goals when it came to running. Leaving college, I felt like I had so much more potential and unfinished business with it.”
“I feel like I’ve finally begun to tap into that potential and it’s just so exciting to me to constantly push my boundaries and see what I can do!”
Have there been any obstacles that you had to overcome?
“I have dealt with a lot of injuries in college, and they were always so devastating because injuries always feel like an enormous setback and it’s hard when you physically cannot do the thing that you love most.”
Is always winning the primary objective?
“Not at all. While it’s always exciting to win a race, that isn’t always the objective. Sometimes I just want to hit a certain time or just see how far I can push myself!”
How do you handle things when your results do not match the effort you put into a race?
“Sometimes you can have done everything right, plenty of sleep, perfect fueling, a good taper, and still not have a great race. It can be very frustrating and confusing, but it just happens.”
“I try to use it as a learning experience. I think that positive self-talk and evaluating any of the things that went well can help when moving forward. It’s also important to recognize that racing makes us better, so there is always something to take away from it.”
Is there a general race strategy or do you adapt to the race as it progresses?
“Depending on the specific race, I will have a different strategy going into it. Shorter track races I usually focus more on splits while longer road races. The strategy can be more focused on pace or just battling with the competition around me.”
What is the distance you prefer to run?
“The longest race I’d done just until last year was the 10k, which I loved. But I am finding the higher the distance goes up, the more I seem to enjoy it!”
What can you tell a young person who wants to enter the sport?
“I would say just be patient and have an open mind! You never know what you’re capable of if you work hard!”
How much of sport is mental?
“When it comes to running, I really believe that more than half of it comes down to your mentality! Of course, training and consistency is important, but you’re never going to achieve your goals if you don’t speak positively to yourself and believe!”
Is there a difference in racing now when you were in college?
“Personally, I really love road races. You never know who you’re going to get to compete with and they’re all so different! I also enjoy it more now because I know I am doing it because I truly love the sport.”
What would you tell a younger version of you today about the sport?
“I would tell myself that it will be worth it and it isn’t always going to be pretty, but you will get out what you put in.”
What are your final thoughts when on the start line with seconds to go?
“My nerves are always pretty high at this point, and the adrenaline is rushing through me. I usually just think about getting out as fast as I can and always remind myself to go out CONTROLLED!”
What changes have you seen in sport?
“I am just amazed at how much faster we have gotten as humans! Some of these times being run by high schoolers just blow my mind!”
* We can turn the pages back and listen to the younger Julien.
*For more posts like this, visit George’s M:M Author Page.
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