“Expectations are like fine pottery. The harder you hold them, the more likely they are to crack.” 
― Brandon Sanderson

The way our brains think and the expectations they create of ourselves – real or perceived – are a funny thing. Since finishing out my fall marathon training cycle and no longer following a plan, I’ve just been running (and sometimes not running). Given my lower mileage and no regimented speed workouts, my brain has decided that I probably can’t run very fast anymore and that I’m already out of shape. Well, nice to see you too, brain. Pfff.

The thing about having no expectations every once in a while is that sometimes, you let go of the pressure you put on yourself. You let go of the demands of being great and perfect and strong. And sometimes, you find out that when you let go of those expectations, you still are – strong and capable of more.

During the past 2 weeks, I’ve gone out for a few easy runs. When I’ve looked down at my watch mid-way through, I noticed I was running tempo pace (faster than what my brain usually thinks I can do). What? Where did that come from? It feels easy. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of runs that haven’t felt glorious, but sometimes when we just let go and run – for the fun of it, for the joy of it – we can still surprise ourselves.

When I was out for a run yesterday morning, I saw these words spray painted on the sidewalk in a tunnel that is known for its graffiti art.

It reminded me about running and that running helps us become more. It was the perfect reminder of the true expectation I have for myself: to simply become more by doing things that make me better – as a person, as a friend, as a runner, as a human being. It’s not a training plan, a race goal or a number to chase. Right now, for me, it’s simply about continually striving to be the best version of me. When I run – no matter how fast or how slow – I always become more.

What kinds of expectations do you have for yourself right now? How about your running? What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen spray painted around town?