LinkedIn Article | A Mindset That Goes the Distance

In 2022, my friend Nancy Winchester became one of only 17 woman in the Boston Marathon’s 127-year history to be inducted into the Boston Marathon’s elite and somewhat elusive Quarter Century Club. Runners are invited to the club only when they have completed 25 consecutive Boston Marathons.

“This year [2023] will be my 26th race. It’s also the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. I ran that race [in 2013] because at that time I still had to qualify for and run nine more Bostons to complete my 25 years,” she said.

Nancy remembers the 2013 race as being a typical marathon day. She said in retrospect she felt very “grateful” she was a fast runner because she was already in her hotel room when she heard the news.

“I turned on the TV and I was in complete shock. I texted everyone I was safe and briefly thought, it could have been me,” she said. “But I know no one can control the uncontrollable. So, I never thought about quitting.” She returned to run in 2014 and every year since.

She applies this same philosophy in her career. By focusing her behavior, words, actions, and attitude on things she can control, she can drive better outcomes.

During the 2018 race, she credits using a solutions mindset for helping her finish. It was unusually cold and rainy that day, so when she pulled out her energy sports gel pack, her hands were so cold, she couldn’t open it.

“I thought, ‘How do I solve this problem?’ I ran to the closest group of spectators, asked a stranger to tear it open and they did,” she said. “I ask this question whenever I have challenges in the workplace as well. It allows me to shift my focus from problem to action.”

Perhaps Nancy’s most profound learning is – measure your success only against yourself. Her goal has always been to run the Boston Marathon in under four hours. This year she finished in 3:52:22.

"It doesn’t matter what goal you are working toward," She said. "If you only compete with yourself, it frees you to define your own success.”

In the words of Arthur Ashe, one of the best tennis players of all time, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.“

Nancy agrees - this is her mantra for how she approaches her work and how she lives her life.