After reading Patrick's refocusing post I began to do some reflection of my own. You hear people throw around the word impossible often. The problem is that very little, if anything, is impossible when you are willing to dedicate yourself to it. That's one of the many things that I have learned about myself so far on this journey. With the right support network and a clear goal you will exceed your wildest expectations and continually raise the bar. Muhammad Ali said it best with the following words:
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."
- Muhammad Ali
I believe as leaders, educators, and mudders that we should ban the word "Impossible" from our vocabulary. There are things that might be improbable but under the right circumstances anything is truly possible. There are many examples that I could use but I thought I'd use something that both DC and I fail to enjoy which is running. The role that trail running plays in our training illustrates the impossible quote perfectly.
When we first began this journey I struggled to run on a treadmill for any length of time. The goal was always to run 2 miles and the treadmill would eventually hit the 2 mile mark. The problem was that I spent a great deal of time resting on the side while the mileage racked up. This seemed like an impossible task for me. I've never been a runner and truly don't enjoy running.
Fast forward to our preparation for the Pennsylvania mudder one year ago. The goal was to complete a five mile loop on a local trail. This would be the indication of preparedness. Once again this task seemed impossible. I kept scheduling time with DC to run the trail and we would eventually hit the goal of five consecutive trail miles. It was no surprise that this training paid huge dividends in Pennsylvania. In a short time span I had gone from a two mile struggle to completing five miles on a trail. There were three options after completing this goal:
- Rest on my laurels and let the hard work go to waste
- Continue running the five mile loop and be satisfied with the results
- Push myself and see how far I can actually go.
Many choose the first two options and I am really good at choosing the first one. It's easy to rest and not keep pushing. It's also easy to settle for what you are currently doing. Pushing further always increasing the likelihood of failure. This happened to me many times just getting to the elusive five mile mark. Failure is just a temporary state of mind unless someone captures the moment and posts it on Facebook. Even then, that failure serves as fuel for you to breakthrough the plateau. If you need further proof check out Patrick removing the monkey from his back in Miami!
The training for Miami took me to another level. We began extending the 5 mile run to 6, 7, 8, 9, and ultimately 10 miles.
Suddenly, we began talking about adding a short run to the schedule to go with the 10 mile run. Can you guess what the length of our short run is now? The short run is typically the five mile loop that was once the impossible goal for a long run. We now push ourselves to run it as fast as possible. There is no question of completing it. The question becomes, "How fast can you run the loop?" It's comical to think that the ultimate goal of 5 miles less than a year ago has now become the new short run in the process of our training.
Full Disclosure: The 10 mile run was the result of DC and I getting lost on a mountain bike trail. Nonetheless it goes down as a 10 mile run.
Suddenly, we began talking about adding a short run to the schedule to go with the 10 mile run. Can you guess what the length of our short run is now? The short run is typically the five mile loop that was once the impossible goal for a long run. We now push ourselves to run it as fast as possible. There is no question of completing it. The question becomes, "How fast can you run the loop?" It's comical to think that the ultimate goal of 5 miles less than a year ago has now become the new short run in the process of our training.
It has moved from...
It is time to set new, audacious goals especially since something that used to be extraordinary becomes ordinary. The training for the Mid-Atlantic Mudder has officially started. The countdown clock waits for no one. Although I still do not enjoy running it has become substantially easier. Ten miles is the new starting point. Who knows where we will end up?
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