PACE is about self control. When you're running, it's knowing how to start, stop and when to take breaks. It's about techniques for inclines, different road conditions, regulating your tempo, your body, breathing, and knowing when you need to take a time-out.
This is very much like life. Running is one of my favorite things to do because it's taught meabout self control. We cannot control others, we can only control ourselves. It's hard to resist the urge as humans to tell others what they should do or how they should go about things. At the end of the day we are accountable to ourselves.
When I was growing up I didn't know about how to PACE myself. I've always been a go-go-go-geter. And to a large extent I still am but have slowed down tremendously. I still have some slowing down to do but my life has been enriched by experiences that have shaped my PACE: work, my marriage and now my pregnancy. Earlier in life, not pacing and taking enough care of myself and dealing with my emotions eventually led me to gain a lot of weight. I didn't know or learn how. I grew up so fast I didn't stop to PACE myself along the way.
That changed with my new lifestyle in 2005. I find now that my exercise and running in particular have helped me cope tremendously with all the little things life throws.
Oh but I'm a WORK IN PROGRESS! I am still challenged as an adult to PACE but I'm more aware than I ever have been to be in tune to my body and to listen and look out for myself. My husband is great at setting boundaries and I've learned from him that making sure I put myself first guarantees I'll get to that finish line. And now that I'm a mom, I connect even more to these concepts. I want my sweet baby girl to know and love herself and PACE!
Self control is a choice. It's not genetic. It's learned. Our will to learn and take accountability to control our lives is in our hands.
What keeps your PACE in check?