Establish the Run

establish the run.

it’s a common phrase heard on football fields around the US from pee-wee all the way up to the NFL. establish the run, or rather, do the basic, fundamental thing really well. Build momentum, and earn the ability to do other things.

the “run” in this scenario is whatever behavior keeps you moving when motivation, inspiration, or anything else sucks. it’s no play action, it’s not a flea flicker, and it’s not a 2-minute drill. it’s the thing you can do over and over.

for fitness/health: do the easy aerobic work before obsessing about intervals, race equipment, or optimization. at work: ship something useful before worrying about the final, polished version. in relationships (both intimate and platonic): consistently show up before relying on big gestures. a shit day: do the smallest version of the routine instead of abandoning the routine.

you don’t start the game by throwing hail marys. you start the game by building consistency and getting in a groove. that is when everything else opens up.

establish the run.