I ordered the proof copy of my book “The Accidental Runner” today. It should be here within a week or two. Shortly after that it will also be available on Amazon. It’s been a great process writing and editing the book and I can’t wait to have a printed copy in my hands.
This is the same book that I published in electronic format on my website last year. It focuses on two aspects of human psychology that I “accidentally” stumbled across years ago, and which turned me into a life long runner. Since I started running I’ve been through a University degree, marriage, three children, various career changes and haven’t lost my groove.
That’s pretty significant, and when I tried to identify why that was, these two shining starts light up the sky. They are social obligation and psychological momentum. While they may be simple on the surface, they are really very powerful concepts.
Social obligation is what I call it when you impose on yourself some type of social obligation to perform a certain act. In the case of running (or any other exercise) this can be as simple as telling a friend or family member that you plan to run that evening. By telling someone else what you plan to do, you in essence make a commitment. Your mind then pushes you to be consistent with the commitment that you made. Just think about the awkwardness of the ensuing conversation with the person you told if you then have to admit that you just sat around and did nothing. So by telling someone that you plan to run, you may have just become an accidental runner.
The next idea is psychological momentum. That’s where you build up a series of events in your mind that define who you are and how you behave. For example, after you sky dive once (for the first time), do you find yourself telling people that you’re a sky diver. Probably not, and that’s because you’ve only done it once. Let’s say that time passes and you happen to go sky diving a dozen more times. Now it’s a lot more plausible that you would identify yourself as a sky diver. The same goes for running, cycling, pilates, or any other exercise. The more you do it, the more you identify with that activity. The act of doing it, and keeping track of how often and how much of it you do, creates momentum. After logging your runs for a time, you might find (like I did) that you’re an accidental runner.
Naturally I’m excited about this book finally being published, and for what it will hopefully represent for everyone that reads it. As I was finalizing the publishing details I took a minute to reflect on dozens of my personal friends (now accidental runners) and the thousands of people that come to maintainfit.com every month and use the exercise log. It should send a very optimistic message that while some are willing to sit on the couch and trust in the big drug companies to fix them after years of neglect, there is a growing number of people that are willing to take charge of their health and fitness. A growing group of accidental runners.
So what are you waiting for? Get off the couch and go for a run. And if that’s too hard, just call your mom and tell her that you plan to run first thing in the morning. Trust me, she’ll follow up with you!
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Interesting. I’ve had a similar journey, peppered with weight gain associated with the 4 children. I Lost 75 lbs. with eating right and exercise, gained 40 back with pregnancies, and I’m down 17 on track to be at my goal by July 4th 2010. I’m excited for your book.
Thanks for the comment Sherrie. That’s fantastic. Are you using a particular program or diet? I haven’t done much by way of organized programs, but that’s probably just because I’m too lazy to find and follow them. Report back in July with your results.