From couch to 44K a week
Reading time: 5 minutes
Hey there,
I’ve learned about running the hard way (just as I have with finances). So if you’re interested in avoiding the silly mistakes I made and enjoying my funny-not-so-funny experience, keep reading!
My friends today don’t believe I didn’t like sports growing up, but back then, sports and I were two separate worlds. I was that kid who was always picked last for teams, the one who found creative ways to avoid PE class, thanks to my incredibly understanding family doctor.
As I started university, I gained a few pounds over summer (10+ kilos) so I decided to start running.
My Running Journey
You can skip that part if you just want to jump on the lessons learned.
Day 1: Ugh! I ran for just 5 minutes, which felt like an eternity. My lungs were on fire, my legs screamed in protest, and when I finally stopped, I felt like I ran a marathon. I thought to myself: “Why in the world would anyone do that to themselves?”
Day 2: Yes, I was determined! I pushed myself to run for a whole 15 minutes this time. And you know what? When I finished, I felt like I’d just won an Olympic gold medal! I had tripled my time, For the first time in forever, I actually felt proud of myself.
Day 3: Pow! Feeling pumped, I added another 15 minutes to my run. Sure, my legs were sore and my shins were starting to complain, but confidence was surging through me. I felt like I could run forever! Mentally, I felt great!
Day 4: Hey, additional 15 minutes? You bet! My shins were definitely yelling at me now, but hey, it must just be soreness, right? Those post-run endorphins kicked in and made everything feel amazing. In those moments, life was good.
Day 5: Wow, 60 minutes straight! One full hour! For a newbie like me, that was huge. Sure, there was a pain in my shins reminding me of my limits, but it usually goes away after half an hour.
I felt overconfident. Even though my shins didn’t feel quite right, I kept pushing through the pain and I decided to continue my formula the week after. It felt like a mental game now: a challenge to see how far I could go.
In just two weeks, I went from couch potato to running 44km a week!
But then… things took a turn.
One day, running became impossible.
The pain in my shins went to excruciating levels, even walking felt like torture, let alone running.
After a visit to the doctor, I found out I had shin splints (i.e. extreme pain along the inside edge of the shinbone due to inflammation of tissue in the area).
Turns out that the pain actually lasted for an entire year and forced me to take a break from running for two long years.
OK, why am I sharing this story?
Lesson 1: Don’t listen to the pros!
When I started running, I took advice from friends who are professional athletes, or just simply grew up playing sports.
Their “just run” mentality didn’t work for me because they didn’t understand my struggles, we have different levels of athleticism and stamina (if we get technical: resting heart rate, VO2 Max, aerobic level, running form, foot landing, breathing…). Turns out professionals don’t know how to advise people like me, because they just have never experienced these problems themselves!
Just as in running where advice can vary widely based on experience and perspective, the same goes for finances.
Be cautious with friends who are inherently “good” with money. You know those who think about it purely in terms of numbers, or you know those who typically say “you just need to save, or just invest in X”.
Money is an art: There is not a one-size-fits-all in money management. What works for one might not for the other. What you want in life, what makes you happy might be drastically different from your professional trader friend or your financial advisor.
Emotional Disconnect: If you have a complicated relationship with money (like many do), advice from these friends who are good with money is completely irrelevant. Try telling “just spend less” to a friend who is struggling to pay off their debt, it just doesn’t work!
Money Coach Tip: Instead of relying solely on “expert” friends’ advice, take time to reflect on what money means to you personally, your values and goals should guide your decisions.
Recently, one of my clients told me that her trader friend recommended her to open a brokerage account to start investing in stocks and funds telling her it was super easy. So she did it, and she opened a margin account without understanding the meaning of it, and started trading while borrowing money without knowing it! It took her months to realise she was trading with margin and she lost 35% of her total capital just because she had no idea what she was doing!
Lesson 2: Learn from those who’ve been there
Have you ever asked an extroverted and confident person how they became so outgoing and well-spoken? Chances are, they’ll give you some absurd answer like, “Oh, I just do it!”
But if you ask someone who used to be super shy and has now overcome that, you’ll get the real scoop on how to crack the code.
In both running and finances, learning from those who have faced the same challenges can be real life-changers!
When I first started running, I’ve been told by my very athletic friends just get good shoes.
So, I turned to a fancy running shop you know the one that has a treadmill that can test my running form with a very detailed sheet explaining my exact angle of foot landing and toe directions, but they couldn’t assess that my feet were wide and needed appropriate shoes.
Then, I came across someone online who has the exact same problem as me: after almost two decades of running, I finally found the perfect shoe shape for me, and running has never been easier, enjoyable and blister-free since!!
Seek Out Experience: Look for mentors, peers or coaches who understand your struggles with their finances, and can share valuable lessons along the way that are relevant to you!
Design Your Protocol: The same people can help you create a personalised approach that works for your unique situation based on their experiences.
Money Coach tip: Instead of following generic advice from “experts,” find people who understand your pains, speak your language and are happy to share their knowledge and experience. Their stories will provide practical insights that resonate with your journey.
Final Words
Just like in running, start small.
Trust me, don’t try to jump straight into 44km in just two weeks!
In financial terms, this means:
If you’ve got some unhealthy money habits, take the time to understand your relationship with money: it’s a gift you’re giving yourself (check out my end-of year limited offer just below!)
If you don’t have any savings yet, start by building up your emergency fund to prepare for whatever comes next year.
If investing is new to you, commit to making your first investment in the next quarter. You’ve got this!
Build your financial confidence to take it step by step, and you’ll get there!
Sophie
