Positively Negative | TwentyThousandFeet.com

The word “negative” usually signifies something bad. But that’s not the case when the discussion is about a concept known as “negative splits.”

Negative splits is a term used in the worlds of running and similar sports. It means that the most recent portion of the overall distance of an athletic event was completed in less time than the previous segment of the same length. Instead of slowing down, the athlete sped up as he or she went along.

For example, let’s suppose that someone is running three miles. The first mile takes 10 minutes, the second mile is covered at a 9:45 pace, and the third in 9:35. Those are negative splits, because each mile was faster than the one before it.

Applied to life in general, negative splits can be seen as a quest to keep getting better. It may involve personal growth, professional advancement, character improvements, spiritual enrichment, overcoming a habit or developing a new one, enhancing a relationship, or something that is specific to only you.

This presents a great way to live: becoming more energized as the path unfolds … Continually progressing in ways that are meaningful, through every season of our journey on Earth – whether that be a week, month, year, or decade. All the way to the finish line.

Here’s to the positive lifestyle of negative splits.

10 comments on “Positively Negative” Add yours →

Love the article. I referred my son, Noah to join your emails! I innately knew of this concept, but I could never put it into words. I apply it to how I come to appreciate things in life. I feel more love and appreciation quicker… for the simpler things… Is this a negative, negative? I am decreasing the amount of “stuff” it takes to bring the same measure of pleasure. lol

Great message! Kaizen or continuous improvement is so important to make us each a better person every day. We need to continuously challenge ourselves otherwise we’re not growing. Looking forward to improving my run and row times tonight. Here’s to negative splits in all aspects of our lives.

Love it! I hope I can live this concept until I die.

Good stuff, thank you for taking a rather unknown sports fact and making it a meaningful way to look at life. This would be good for individuals or relationships.

Tom

Progress. Redemption. Salvation. Success. It’s all there for those who keep growing. I love seeing it in myself … I love seeing it in others.

Thanks, everyone for your comments. I truly appreciate them. – Steve

I’ve always set my sights on improving my performance whether in my golf game or other sports activities, however at my current age of 79 I’m realizing my drives off the tee are not going as far and my pace riding my bike is no longer increasing. I’m still pursuing the activities with the realization that I’m about as good now as I’m going to be….

I find consultation in the simple fact that I can still, in fact, participate….. I lot of folks my age are unable to…. ?