Sunday, June 7, 2015

the body achieves what the mind believes

"it takes the same amount of breath to say a supportive word as it does to criticize, yet one could very well mean the difference between someone achieving the impossible and giving up altogether. which will you choose? ~ susan lacke for competitor.com

 i was reading this article today and was thinking how very true the above statement is.  when i was deciding to sign up for the ice age 50k the non-runners in my life were very skeptical about whether or not i could do it.  they didn't understand WHY i would WANT to do it.  many though it was an impossible goal.  the runners in my life (bless their little hearts) were very encouraging and didn't once question whether or not i COULD do it or why i would want to... they questioned my time goal but not whether or not i could finish the distance.  maybe that's sort of the same thing?  a little bit?

when someone tells me they're going to do something i don't question it.  i just believe them.  i think that when someone wants to do something they are fully capable of doing it if they want it bad enough.  i've done things i previously thought impossible.  i know anything is possible.

yesterday morning several of my friends started off on a journey to run the kettle 100.  there are 3 distances: 100m, 100k, and 50k.  i am so proud of everyone who went out there and gave it their all!  so many amazing athletes running with their hearts when their bodies were not cooperating.  they are so inspiring.  some people finished last night and some finished this morning... all left a bit of themselves on the trails.  it's a beautiful thing.

someone asked me not too long ago why the people who run these ultra distances do it?  do they actually enjoy these distances or is it just a competitive thing?  i have to say that i believe for most of them it's the pure love of running that they do it.  you have to love running to be out on those trails for that long.  some of those people yesterday were out there for more than 24 hours.  when i ran the 50k i was out there for more than 5 hours and while the last 9 miles were torturous they were also beautiful and transformative.  i loved running that race.  i enjoyed the majority of it and even the painful parts gave me something in return.

there's something very soothing and healing about being in nature.  being surrounded by the earth untouched by the modernization of humankind.  it feeds the soul and mind.  gives energy and drive where previously there was none.  being out there doing the impossible with everyone else who was out there doing the impossible made it possible.

anything is possible if you believe.  maybe next year i'll run the 50m instead of the 50k... why not?  gotta have goals.

next time someone tells you they're going to do something... believe in them.  keep in mind that if you choose negative words and/or disbelief... that might just be the thing that stops them from attaining their asserted goal.  on the flip side... your positive affirmation could be just the thing that pushes beyond wondering into believing that they can achieve their goal.  you determine the energy you put out into the world.  wouldn't you rather it be positive?

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