CARGILL FOR
Simple enough, right? I think some of us actually neglect to do this because we think it’s too simple. But I’ve found that planning out my days, weeks, and months in advance is crucial for a number of reasons. One, I’m able to visually arrange and rearrange my schedule, kind of like a puzzle, to see how every piece is going to fit. Two, setting my schedule allows me to coordinate with my husband. I can plan things, such as childcare and meals for those late nights. And three, I have accountability. I know that when something is scheduled, it needs to get done then or I might not have another chance. No hitting the snooze button if I’m going to be the best runner I can be. However, I’d never be able to follow through with my schedule without help. Remember when I mentioned scheduling childcare? I need a lot of help from family and friends in order to manage motherhood. We do not have the resources to afford a full-time nanny, so I rely a lot on family to help with my daughter. There are days when I leave before 6 a.m. and other days when I’m not home until 7 p.m. So who’s taking care of my daughter? My family. I have an amazing mother who takes her to school and a wonderfully supportive husband who can pick her up. My suggestion: make sure to surround yourself with a support group that will do anything possible to help you achieve your goals. They’ll be your cheer-
ing section, urging you on, and the ones who help in times of need. What else could you possibly need besides the perfect schedule and people falling head over heels to help you? You need trust, because no schedule is ever perfect, and rarely do people consistently fall head over heels for you. There are times when I have no idea how I’m going to make it to practice and other days when running is the last thing on my checklist, but somehow it all works out. Somehow I make it to practice and somehow I get my run in. I might not know how it’s going to work out until mere hours before, but I’ve learned to just trust that it will. Crazy, right? But I know deep down that running is what I’m supposed to be doing; I’ve sacrificed too much for it not to work out. So I just trust that it will, and so far it has. Now, let me clarify: I’m not sitting on my bottom, lazily awaiting some miracle, but I’m not stressing myself out over it either. I would be kidding myself to say that it always works out perfectly, but I do know that it will work out in some fashion. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. At times achieving your goal, whether completing your first 5K or becoming an Olympian, can seem impossible. But with sheer determination and a few key practices (strategic planning, a supportive group, and trust in the outcome) those dreams might be more of a reality than you think. afm
No hitting the snooze button if I’m going to be the best runner I can be.
Dacia Perkins Dacia Perkins is a four-time NCAA All-American and 2008 Olympic Trials Semi-Finalist. She won six state championships before graduating from Lake Travis High School in 2004 and starting her college career as a University of Arkansas Razorback. After graduating from Arkansas in 2008, Dacia competed internationally before moving to Austin with her husband. She is currently training for the Olympic Trials in June as a member of TeamRogue Elite, an Austin based non-profit with the goal to help aspiring Olympians reach their highest potential. Dacia is married to Adam (also a former Razorback Track athlete) and the mother of a rambunctious little girl. Website: teamrogue.org | Running Blog: teamrogue.wordpress.com/news/ Personal Blog: daciaperkins.wordpress.com
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