This week on the podcast, I talk with Rino Levesque about goal setting, managing expectation and confidence.

This is a conversation that every runner who is or is thinking about having a Boston Qualifying marathon time as a goal should pay attention to. Marathon running is a cruel sport. It doesn't care how prepared you are, how fit you are, and how mentally ready you are. Sometimes when you line up to that start line, factors outside of your control mean that it is just not going to be your day. When you are chasing a time standard at the limit of what you are capable of, it will be hard. Someone will rarely get it on their first try, and if they do, then that time standard was that close to their limit of potential. What takes true courage, grit and determination are to keep showing up and trying again that 2nd, 3rd or more times because you've decided that it is truly important to you.

We as runners need more metrics to judge success or failure at a race than a time on the clock. When it comes down to it, at the end of the day, what is important is can you look at yourself in the mirror and say that you did your best? If the answer is yes, then it is a success.

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I've know Rino for many years now. He was the first official athlete that I coached back when I started this whole running coaching thing. Since day one, Rino has been chasing a Boston Qualifying marathon time. Over the years, we've had some big triumphs and some big heartbreaks and that, and he has yet to achieve the coveted BQ time.

In this episode, unpack five decades of Rino's history with running. During this time, he had to overcome a heart arrhythmia and ended up in the hospital where he met his future wife, who was a nurse there when he was brought in.

Rino is also an entrepreneur who has had three successful business startups, and we dive deep into those stories and draw many parallels between business and running. Rino has many life experiences and many tales to tell, which we can all learn something from.

After Rino's last attempt at a Boston Qualifying Marathon, he decided to take a break from running as his confidence in his body and his ability to achieve his dream were fading. During this time, he packed up his bike and biked from Halifax, N.S. to Miami, Florida, and let me tell you, this is quite the tale about how life is best taken one day at a time.

Following the bike trip, Rino has regained his confidence and has resumed running, but this time with a whole new perspective on his training. Yes, he still wants that BQ, but now the most important thing is that he has fun along the way.

I truly enjoyed the chance to catch up with Rino without my coach hat on, and I know that you will enjoy and learn from the many stories he has to tell in the conversation.

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