Fresh Start Monday #58: A lesson from my first 50k ultramarathon

I finished my first 50k ultra on Saturday! I originally planned on writing something about determination or resilience, but in the almost seven hours of trail running, something else came up for me.

Years ago, I was listening to a podcast, and a successful entrepreneur was being interviewed. The host asked, what advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? He answered, be patient.

I remember immediately stopping the podcast and thinking, how the hell is that supposed to help me build anything?

I think I get it now.

On January 1st, 2022 my New Year resolution was to run a 100-mile ultramarathon that year.

In the year before, I made a few goals, but I noticed that deep down, I knew I would hit those goals. What looked like an edge or a challenge on the outside, was in reality, safety and comfort.

What drew me to that New Year resolution was having a goal that I had no idea I could actually do. Where failure was likely. Where success was not completely in my control.

I picked out a race in South Africa. I started training.

Things started well, but the problem was that I wasn't a runner. I started from zero, and soon, my body broke down. I injured my calf. Then I reinjured it.

Then out of fear of injury, I stopped running for several months. I told myself that running wasn't for me.

Twenty-one months after that New Year's Resolution, I learned my lesson.

Dream big, but don't be in a rush.

Life's biggest rewards and accomplishments are not achieved in time scales of weeks or months, but years.

If you asked me what was your key to success in running this first 50k, you might think it was my training, nutrition, or years of long-distance hiking, but patience is my answer.

When you have a goal, you might dive into research, strategies, and tactics, but remember to give yourself permission to succeed on a longer time scale. That might be all you're missing.

Continue to dream big, but don't be in a rush.