“For me, races are the celebration of my training.”
(Dan Browne)
The Track Shack running season kicked off as soon as the calendar turned to August.
This has been the cadence for me for over 15 years now. I said it before and I will keep saying that I love running with Track Shack and the Orlando running community. I seriously thought about joining the Track Shack Fanatics program this year, but I can only make half of the six races in the series. I will stick to picking and choosing Track Shack races that fit within my running schedule and cheer for folks participating in the races I can’t make.
The Celebration of Running 5K has become one of my annual measuring sticks. It gives me an opportunity to see where I am early in my training season and determine what I need to do to prepare for the longer races ahead. Of course, running a 5K in Florida during August comes with its own set of challenges.
Heat, humidity and more humidity are always on the menu when I venture over to Winter Park for an August race but that’s part of the deal. I could complain about the weather, the course or how my body feels that morning. And, believe me, runners are pretty good at coming up with excuses. 😊 But running has taught me something important. You don’t always get to choose the conditions. You get to choose how you respond to them. This lesson extends well beyond running. Leadership is a lot like running
Leadership and running have more in common than we sometimes realize. Leadership and running require patience, discipline and the ability to adjust. There are no guarantees in either of these venues that things will go according to plan.
My training program is geared towards getting ready for the 2026 Atlantic City Marathon in October. My goal for the Celebration of Running 5k was to test my fitness and see how much work I still need to put in as I prepare for Atlantic City. I was prepared mentally and physically but sometimes that’s not enough. The heat and humidity were major factors in my race results this year. I started and finished with a smile on my face but found myself struggling with the conditions halfway through the race. I was able to focus and get myself to the finish line, but I didn’t improve on my 2025 race time. No huge deal, that’s life sometimes on race day. 😊 There’s always a lesson to learn when I struggle on race day.
Leadership and running have more in common than we sometimes realize. Leadership and running require patience, discipline and the ability to adjust. There are no guarantees in either of these venues that things will go according to plan.
As a leader, you can prepare for the meeting, develop the strategy, communicate the vision and build the team—but circumstances will inevitably change. Staff members leave, there are budget cuts, technology doesn’t always work and the organization changes direction. These things happen all too often. Things happen in the work environment, and we must be able to adapt to these changes. How do you respond?
Running has taught me to embrace that reality. You start with a plan, but you must be willing to adjust along the way. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as I continue to race is that progress isn’t always measured by a faster time. Sometimes progress is simply showing up. Progress can be completing a workout when I’m not feeling great. It can also be highlighted by slowing down because my body tells me to. I realize my performance from one race does not define my ability to perform in my next race. Running is funny like that.
These things are true in leadership, too. We can become so focused on the next goal that we fail to recognize the progress we’ve already made. Leaders need to celebrate progress—not just perfection.
When I look at my running journey since 2010, I see much more than races and finish times. I see growth, discipline, perseverance, patience and resilience. I continue to learn how to handle setbacks as a runner and a leader. Most importantly, I’ve learned that the journey matters.
That’s also what I try to bring to my leadership philosophy through Authentic Leadership.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to learn. It’s about understanding your people. It’s about creating an environment where people can grow. True leaders must recognize that everyone is on a journey—and helping them become better along the way.
My leadership philosophy is simple: Impact people in a positive way and leave them better than when you found them.
That’s my WHY statement that I leverage daily in the work environment. Running has reinforced that philosophy for me. The people I’ve met through running have encouraged me, challenged me, supported me and, in many cases, become friends.
Track Shack has been part of that journey for more than 15 years. So, when I show up for another Celebration of Running 5K, I’m not just running a race. I’m continuing a journey while testing myself on the course and the weather. Also, I’m reminding myself that there is always another mile ahead. This is true in running, leadership and life.
You don’t have to have the entire journey figured out. You just need to take the next step.
One step. One mile. One race. One leadership lesson at a time.
Keep moving forward and Walk into the Future! 😊
“Running is the answer. The question is irrelevant.”
(Unknown)
Irie!
Calvin Williams
Walk Into the Future 