We talked about ‘Grit’ at practice today, and the value of grit as a character trait.
Grit is defined as “perseverance and passion for long-term goals.” [Duckworth, A.L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M.D., & Kelly, D.R. (2007)]
Grit sounds like it would be important for a distance runner, doesn’t it? The ability to decide that you want to work for years towards a goal that is challenging, and seems unattainable at times…in the face of friends and acquaintances who think you are nuts for your obsession with running…the ability to get out and run, in rain or heat, regularly…finding and supporting friends and teammates who share your goals, and accepting help and encouragement when you find yourself struggling to run further or faster…isn’t this part of being a successful distance runner? Doesn’t this also sound like a description of grit?
Being a successful distance runner requires sustained effort (not necessarily heroic effort) towards a challenging goal over a long period of time. Grit is important for anyone who wants to achieve difficult goals…and we will all have difficult challenges during our lives. One of the cool things about being a distance runner, and about being part of a cross country team, is that we can test and develop our grit as we work towards and achieve goals.
Angela Duckworth (the author of the article cited above) theorizes that ‘the individuals who possess a drive to tirelessly work through challenges, failures, and adversity to achieve goals are uniquely positioned to reach higher achievements than others who lack similar stamina.’ This sounds like traits that are valuable to have…and traits we would like to develop.
Your coach would be the first one to tell you that being successful at high school cross country is NOT the most important thing you need to do in your life. High school academics…your college career…your relationships, jobs, family–all these things are more important that high school sports. But that does not mean you can’t be a good cross country runner AND do these other things. Having grit can help you achieve great things everywhere in your life. And high school cross country running is a place where you can develop your grit. While striving to be a better runner, you have the opportunity to prove to yourself that you have grit, and take this confidence with you the rest of your life as you face more important challenges and goals.
We read that one description of a person with grit would be a person who has:
- A clear goal
- Determination despite others’ doubts
- Self-confidence about figuring it out
- Humility about knowing it doesn’t come easy
- Persistence despite fear
- Patience for the small stuff that obscures the path
- A code of ethics they live by
- Flexibility in the face of roadblocks
- A capacity for human connection and collaboration
- A recognition that accepting help does not equate to weakness
- A focus and appreciation of each step in the journey
- An appreciation of other people’s grit
- A loyalty that never sacrifices connections along the way
- An inner strength that brings them to their goal