life lessons from ultra trail running
in true 'field notes' fashion, i have collected some rough draft nuggets and thoughts from a season of diving into my new curiosity and pursuit of trail running. there’s so much to learn about life in pursuing an endurance effort, and as Dylan Bowman would say, “trail running will save the world”.
so with that said, here is a word dump collection, some chewable thoughts from my head and experiences these days.
maybe topics of future posts, maybe chapters of future books, or maybe, simply, chicken scratch that i will return to for reference and future musings. without further adieu, some preliminary scaffolding of my elaborate extended ultra trail running metaphor for life…
internal environment must drive the external. mastering how to tap into internal peace and calm midst the hard, fast, and ever changing external.
"patient. present. deliberate." (props to Chadd Wright. this became my mile-by-mile mantra during ultra efforts this year)
i’m already a finisher as i toe the start line. the brave, bold, authentic act is toeing the start line, showing up - independent of results.
consistency is unglamorous but the biggest needle-mover.
control the controllables. run the runables. then trust your training.
the training season is a season of obscurity. hidden. hard. deliberate. unglamorous. training has intention. it’s building towards something bigger.
my expectations shape my experience of reality.
ultramarathons are more of a fueling and mindset game than muscular. once the training is in place, the prep, problem solving, and headspace have to keep you going.
your body will perform when it trusts you to give it what it needs.
you are more prepared and capable than you think.
you’re always worthy – it’s who you are. you belong where you belong. receive permission.
I’m already a finisher because I carry The Finisher.
“enthusiasm is common. endurance is rare.” passion is not the fireworks, it’s the compass. (props to Angela Duckworth and her book Grit - such a timely read that should probably automatically come in the mail after you sign up for your first ultramarathon)
grit must be grounded. grounded in my values, my vision, my why.
stamina, endurance, staying-power all require a foundation.i get to do this. gratitude is a powerful reset.
the pain cave is not forever, but its effects can be. in the pain cave is growth, strengthening, refining, and sharpening.
adversity is an opportunity if i see it as one.
i can do hard things. there’s a different level of satisfaction that can only be reached after “hard”.
Also, there’s a difference between hard and stupid.
bonking is a preparation, fueling, or pacing issue.
different results come from different inputs.
trust your crew. trust your pacer.
i won’t be ready for mile 32 until i’m on mile 31.
i might not see the next cairn or trailmarker until i get to the one i see. one mile at a time. one step at a time.
just because it’s hard or painful now, doesn’t mean it will be miles down the trail. what can i do now to set myself up for success then?
there are slower and faster segments. more technical, less technical. take what the trail gives you. no two races, no two days, are the same.
run your own race. stay curious about what’s going on inside of you, then respond with grounded agency.
everyone has their own mountains to face. everyone’s pain cave looks different.
and on, and on, and on....
don't worry, i think i be romping on these trails for awhile. there's oh so much to learn.