The problem with Success

Funny thing about success...it breeds complacency, at least when one is not accustomed to success. For example, I ran a half marathon just over a week ago. That's 13.1 miles straight and I did it with zero walking and with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 33 seconds. Not bad for a big fella like me. That equaled success for me. I essentially took the next week off, only running twice.

This week, I tried to run on Monday and got a mile and a half before quitting. Yesterday I ran 4 miles with a friend and ran it only because he was. I would have quit miles before that if he hadn't been running it with me. I kept thinking, "I already have a half marathon under my belt. Why am I torturing myself?"

Yes, I do already have a half marathon under my belt...and it will be the only one under my belt if I don't stick with the running. Last week, and through yesterday, I had been complacent with my running. I could look at the Finisher's shirt I got at the Carlsbad half marathon and know that I could do it.

But that doesn't mean I can do it again. I must get back out there and continue running. I have a huge mission. I have to lose a significant amount of weight for my Navy weigh-in coming up in just under two months. I ran my first half marathon for my daughter and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Now I'm running for my career.

Success, for those of us who have not felt substantial amounts of it, can breed complacency. I have been complacent for a little over a week. That ended yesterday with a punishing 4 mile run. Today I'm fully back on the saddle. I know it will be painful for awhile, but I will be back and better than I was at Carlsbad.

Has success equaled complacency for you? How are you able to push through complacency to meet your goals?