Back in high school I used to tell myself that I would NEVER run a marathon. Maybe a half marathon but that would be my limit. I just couldn’t wrap my head around why anyone would want to run for over 3 straight hours. Fast forward 5 years and I’ve ran numerous half marathons, a full marathon, a 50k and a 50 miler.
So what changed? My mindset. After finishing my first half marathon in 2014 I finally understood why people had a desire to run the infamous 26.2 miles. It wasn’t because every moment was fun and exciting, it was about challenging ones mind and body. Running has taught me that our bodies are capable of so much more that our minds lead us to believe. I ran my first marathon in the fall of 2015 and easy would not be a word I use to describe it. Yet when I finished I was amazed at what I had done. It didn’t take long for me to wonder what else I was capable of. I read Eat and Run by Scott Jurek and was introduced to the world of ultra marathons. While others thought it was crazy, I was absolutely mesmerized. Running 50 miles on trails with some hefty elevation was the most physically demanding task I have ever done. If I had a dollar for every time I had wanted to quit I’d probably be done paying off my student loans. Yet from the moment the starting gun went off I knew that quitting wasn’t an option. Running is a mental sport and you get out of it whatever your mind puts into it. It would have been easy to stop after 25 miles when my body wanted to give up, but my mind overpowered my body’s doubt.
We often have deep rooted beliefs about our own capabilities. Like running, it isn’t easy for me to tell myself how absolutely limitless my capabilities are. When you change your mindset of what you are capable of you stop doubting that you deserve to live your wildest dreams. I often find that it is my own thoughts and beliefs that hold me back from going for what I really want in life.
Running ultra marathons has taught me how strong of a person I am. My previous accomplishments are there to shut down the negative self talk that tells me I’m not worthy of living the life I truly want. My thoughts held me back for a long time about starting a blog that would hopefully inspire others. When I stopped feeding the self doubt I was able to see that I had the power to do whatever the hell I wanted! Instead of shying away from my dreams, running has taught me to pursue them ferociously.
You are capable of more than you can ever imagine. So stop feeding the negative thoughts and start aligning your actions with your wildest dreams.
