One Step at a Time, or How I Run 100 Miles
21d ago (edited) in General discussion
One Step at a Time, or How I Run 100 Miles
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I got sucked down a rabbit hole that makes some people think I’m crazy. In the midst of the lockdown and the craziness that was the COVID-19 pandemic, I stumbled upon ultra-distance running. Among the different distances I've tackled, the 100-mile race has become my favorite. There's something almost meditative about it—it's long enough to completely immerse yourself in the experience, pushing past perceived physical and mental boundaries into what's known in our circles as "the pain cave."
When people learn that I run 100 miles at a stretch, the inevitable question is, "How on earth do you run that far?" The answer lies not in the race day itself, but in the months of preparation that lead up to it. Imagine building a house brick by brick; that's how you train for an ultramarathon. You don't just wake up one day and decide to run 100 miles. The journey to the starting line begins 6 to 9 months earlier, with the establishment of a simple, consistent routine and a clear focus. The real takeaway here—even if ultramarathons aren't your cup of tea—is that the key to achieving any monumental goal lies in the cumulative effort of days, weeks, and months. Each step, no matter how small, is a building block toward that grand achievement.
Let me break down how I approach this monumental task. It starts with setting clear priorities through a "Roles and Values" statement—a personal manifesto of sorts that outlines what I value most in life. I then meticulously align my daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual schedules to these values. For instance, my typical weekday begins at 5:30 AM with an hour of training before work. Weekends might see me logging three to five hours of running. This disciplined schedule is crucial, not just for physical endurance, but for mental fortitude as well.
The same principles apply whether your goal is to run a 5K, write a book, or double your lawfirm. It all starts by defining your objectives clearly and laying out a detailed plan to achieve them. This plan should break down your ultimate goal into manageable, daily tasks—each day's effort is a step toward the 100-mile finish line of your ambitions, a brick in the house you’re building.
In sharing this journey, I hope to inspire you to consider your own "ultra" goals. What's your equivalent of a 100-mile race? How can you prepare for it not just physically, but mentally and strategically? By embracing the slow, steady accretion of effort, you can transform what might once have seemed impossible into something eminently achievable.
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