Why is it called The Even Split?

Some people have asked why this substack is called The Even Split. It's a fair question.

For those maybe not super familiar with running, we call the timed segments or portions of our runs or races “splits.” For instance, in a one mile race, quarter, half, and three quarter mile splits would be common. In this example, if you ran the first half mile faster than the second half mile, then you would have run what's called “a positive split.” You ran faster at the beginning. If you ran the second half mile faster than the first half mile, then you would have run “a negative split.” You ran faster at the end. If you ran the first and second halves the same, then that's called “an even split.”

There's a ton of debate and running philosophy around what people think is the best strategy. For me, I've always run my best races adhering to an even split philosophy - or as close to it as I could achieve. I have found running success through even splits, and this is one of those aspects that I find translates nicely into other aspects of my life.

Running even takes wisdom, discipline, patience, courage, strength, perseverance, and self-awareness. Balance. To me, it's an aspiration. Something as close to perfect as we can get. As I have aged through the years of my life, there have been - and will continue to be - sprints, surges, jogs, and dead stops. When it's all said and done, if it all averages out to something remotely close to an even split, then I'd say that's a podium finish.