Taking Care of Future You

You see eating, drinking and pacing, and following your plan as things you have to do to finish on goal. The necessary. And sometimes a chore (me too).

But what if you saw them as taking care of someone you love? Doing the best for them. Making sure their way is clear ahead. Making sure they’ll be healthy and happy in the future.

You’d do this gladly for someone you love. You wouldn’t think twice about taking care of them this way. Because you care about them.

Well, that’s exactly what you’re doing in the race.

And the beloved person you’re doing it for is the version of you 20, 50 or 100 miles ahead.

Future You.

You maintaining a good fire of calories in your engine, staying hydrated and electrolyted, and staying on your plan, even when everyone else takes off, are all investments in your future health and happiness in the race.

What Future You, all those miles ahead, will be thanking you for.

It’s like keeping the sink clean. For me: by the end of a day, I may not have done everything I planned to set myself up for a good morning, but I will clean the sink and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Because I know the simple joy of walking into the kitchen the next morning to find a clean, uncluttered sink.

It’s nothing epic - just doing what needs doing - but Future Me is always grateful I did it. It’s the start of a good day.

So next time you’ve been eating aid station food for hours on end, and drinking water until you can’t stand it and need something - anything - different, remember it’s not about you.

It’s about Future You.

Who gets the payoff just when it’s needed the most.