Hi Move Fast, Think Slow Readers - Welcome to the Paris 2024 Edition of MF/TS. This week we have to talk about the exceptional 2024 Olympics and how it’s inspired my running life. Also, building off of last week’s “What is your mission?” I challenge you to a writing exercise focused on finding perspective.
Hope you enjoy & have a great weekend! 🤗
LET’S TALK THIS YEAR’S EPIC OLYMPICS
Wow. Woe. Wee. Wah. The Summer Olympics have been exceptional this year.
Whether it was the come-from-behind 1500M win by Cole Hocker, or Quincy Hall’s come-from-behind 400M win, or Julien Alfred upsetting Sha’Carri Richardson and getting St. Lucia their first-ever gold in history, or these badass Irish rugby players, or Trinity Rodman’s game-winning goal against Japan, or Ilana Maher showing the world how to establish the run in Rugby or amateur cyclist-turn-gold medalist Kristen Faulkner or Yusuf Dikeç casually winning a silver in sharp shooting.
There. Has. Been. So. Much. Electricity.
Also, can we shout out
?! His content remixes have been absolutely on 🔥🔥🔥 (see more on IG).
It’s not just photography-to-art match up but the titles of the art as well; for example this one above called “two old men.” LOLOLOLOLOL!!!
IF WE’RE TALKING OLYMPICS, WE HAVE TO TALK RUNNING
The Olympics fire me the fack up. And luckily I got to be in Paris a few weeks ago as events kicked off. And of course I had to get in some Paris miles.
Paris Running: There’s nothing like Paris miles. Especially during summer time when everyone flees town. I have the Paris Marathon on my bucket list because it’s such a beautiful city. My money says the marathon in Paris is a ton of fun.
New treatment - new me: After my half-marathon in May my ankles/achilles have been a bit busted but thankfully I discovered a new treatment that has me back out there. I’ve been wrapping up my ankles with Saran Wrap with gels and it’s been working. I just had the largest weekly load (47 miles) since February. My ankles are still a little jacked up but they’re no longer completely swollen or in pain.
The kid still has it: I did speed intervals last Tuesday, fluctuating between 6:20 - 6:50/mile pace in the 4 x 1200s. And that 4th one is always a real pain. Yet net-net the good news is I can move at fast pace without any hiccups.
I-done-on-did-it: Not only will I be running the NYC marathon in 2024 but I also signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Going to be a pace car for a buddy and we’ll see how I hold up running 2x 26.2s in a month timespan. 😬😬
Looking forward, 2024 NY Marathon: Going to increase / sustain the load between now and end of October in preparation for 26.2 in NYC. I cannot wait. My goal is to break 3:40:00 and depending on how I feel, maybe 3:30:00🏅🏅
PSA: If you are willing & able please make a donation for +Pool here, the organization I’m running in support of in this year’s NY marathon.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT: THREE AREAS TO WRITE & THINK ABOUT (TO FIND SUPER POWERS)
Coming off of last week’s post. “What is your mission,” where I unpack the power of a real solid mission, here are three things to think and write about this weekend.
Gratitude: Think of all the things in your life that give you security. That give you a chance to evolve. That inspire you. Write down what they are. Write down why you are grateful for these things. People, places, circumstances, health are all elements to consider.
Confidence banking: What did you achieve this week? Where did you show up? How/why was that a win. And consider the little things as wins too. How you showed up. When you showed up. Think through everyday of the past week. Bring up your schedule. Acknowledge your victories.
Mission: In my opinion, a good mission does a few things. It establishes a vision, a place you want to be, and it also establishes a baseline of what you need to do today in order to get there. Where do you want to be by end of the year? How does it help you get to a new place? What change do you want to evolve towards? You can’t be grumpy about where you are in life if you’re not establishing a clear space to reach for.
Get a notebook. Get a pen. Find a way to steal :30 minutes. And write this sh** down. Don’t over think it. Write what comes to you. Get it onto the page and then go revisit it later. Push on this and get back to me later. It’s how you find a way towards your current greatness and what might be possible up ahead. You want superpowers? This is a good start.
You acknowledge the gifts you already have, just by giving a look around. How lucky are you?
You acknowledge your little and big wins, doesn’t matter the size. A win is a win. And you can’t feel great unless you STFU and take a moment to acknowledge them.
And do you know where you are going and why you are going there? What is your mission? Have you established it clearly? Do you see it everyday? For yourself? What about your teams?
This exercise clarifies. And with clarity we might find symmetry in the flow of life.
IMAGES OF THE WEEK - PRAISE BE PARIS
We were lucky to visit Paris in the Summer of 2024, and it did not disappoint.
Go forth.
Stay safe.
Ride the wave.
-Mitch