Preparing for and running ultra-marathons has taught me a lifetime worth of lessons so I thought it would be a good idea to share the Top Five!

The list is in no particular order. Many if not all of these lessons can be incorporated into your daily life, regardless if you are a runner.

As always, if you find value, please comment and spread the word. Id love to hear back on how you have used some of these to better yourself. 

 1. Luck favors the well prepared. 

You may have heard this phrase before. If not today is your lucky day because this lesson holds true to any aspect of your life. I have learned this lesson the hard way on multiple occasions, but one sticks out to me the most. The 2017 Habanero 100 miler, a brutal race that takes place in the middle of summer on a tough sandy course in Texas.  

I showed up poorly trained and not acclimatized to the heat (the temperature was around 104°F). Failed to do research on the course conditions beforehand so I was unaware it would be sandy till the race had already begun. This shitty lack of preparedness could have been fatal.

By mile 26, it all caught up to me. I was severely dehydrated, unable to drink or eat anything. My vision was blurred, and my hearing was muffled. I quickly found myself at the aid station tent, the last place I wanted to be. They strongly recommended that I go to the ER to have an IV administered but I ignored the request.

 I went back out for another lap (6 miles) but began violently throwing up halfway through. Not to mention, my urine was the color of coca cola, from rhabdomyolysis. My body was literally breaking itself down from the stress. It was then I realized my race was over. Embarrassed and disappointed I walked back to the aid station and told them I was done. Vowing to never show up to a race unprepared again.

Whether it’s a race, a job interview or even a first date. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Do your research, put in the work and show up for the challenge well prepared!

2. Enjoy the process.

It should be no surprise that race day is much more exciting than a lonely training run. However, by diving into journey and learning to enjoy the process you will prevent yourself from burning out taking a downward spiral into a slump. Make it a point to be thankful that you have the opportunity and time to train towards a challenging goal, even on the days you lack motivation.

When you enjoy the process and live your life in the moment you will look forward to the tough training days. Because you realize the process can make or break you on race day.

3. Avoid negativity at all cost.

This lesson should be categorized as a golden rule for running and even more so with life. When you set your mind to a new challenge, you will quickly find out who is with you, and against you. Some folks will be encouraging, and others will lash out with negativity. I highly suggest you avoid the latter. It took me a while to understand ow toxic negativity truly is. If you are not careful it will spread like a disease.

I have experienced negativity from family, friends and even from other runners during a race. I’m always careful to keep my cool and not buy into their negative mindset. Anyone who is attempting to drag you down is only doing it as a defense mechanism because they are insecure with their own capabilities. It is much easier for them to tear you down than it would be for them to step in the arena with you! Simply avoid them at all cost.

You will never be criticized by those who are ahead of you. So, surround yourself with people faster, stronger and smarter than you. Those will be the people who push you forward and help you become the best version of yourself. Then you can begin to do the same for others!

4. You can always go further than you thought possible.

David Goggin’s said it best with his famous 40% rule. “When your mind tells you you’re done, you’re really only 40% done!” ….Think about that for a second.

To put it simple, he is saying that when you think you have nothing left to give, you still have 60% of untapped potential buried inside of you. It is your job to determine how to dig deep into the reserves to unlock that potential.

This one I was fortunate to learn early on in my running career. Now that I think about it, hearing of this principle is what encouraged me to sign up for my first marathon, with no prior training. I realize this slightly contradicts that “luck favors the well prepared”. I admittedly showed up unprepared, BUT I finished the full 26.2 miles on the beach, never having ran further than 6 miles in one day!

Sometimes, you have to have faith in yourself and just dive head first into a new challenge. Even if it means being a little unprepared. But when things start to really suck, be sure to remind yourself that you have so much more to give!

5. Run your race.

I know I said this list was in no particular order but if I could only share one lesson, this would be it. Without a doubt it should be a motto that you live by for the rest of your life. It is extremely powerful but not easily mastered. I still struggle with it myself but not a day goes by that I don’t remind myself to “run my race”. It might sound self-explanatory, but it is a dynamic lesson so I will explain.

At times, we all get caught up worrying about what others think of us, regardless if you care to admit it. You might not realize this way of thinking is the fastest way to paralyze yourself in fear. It doesn’t matter where you are with your fitness, business, relationship, finances, anything for that matter. There will always be someone doing better than you, don’t let that cripple you. Because at the same time, there will always be someone doing worse than you. And beautiful part is, THEY DON’T MATTER.

“Only compare yourself to yesterday’s version of you”