THE JOY OF FLEX

Got a new running goal in mind? ‘It’s great to have a goal and a programme,’ says mental-performance coach Midgie Thompson, author of the Winning Strategies Workbook (Gabrielle Lea Publishing). ‘But there’s a tipping point between commitment and obsessiveness. Sometimes, pursuing your goal will put you in conflict with other things, such as spending time with your family or safeguarding your health.’ So how do you know when to do, ditch or defer?

PUT IT IN CONTEXT

‘Ask yourself where pursuit of your goal ranks among your values,’ says Thompson. ‘If you’re clear on what’s important to you, it’s easier to make a decision when it comes to the crunch.’

PRESS FAST FORWARD

Imagine yourself in the future. ‘What will the consequences be if you run and if you do not run? In each case, how will you feel?’ asks Thompson.

USE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Think of an occasion when you faced a similar tricky decision. What did you do that time, and did you make the right call?