Don’t Drop Out On An Uphill

“Never drop out when you’re going uphill.”

This was a quote that Mike Wardian referenced on The Ultra Running Guys podcast, and it has stuck with me ever since I first heard it.

There comes a point in many ultramarathons where things get hard, expectations might change, and we feel like quitting. A lot of times this revelation occurs when we’re traveling uphill.

The same could be said about life.

But the thing about big climbs is that they’re supposed to slow us down and challenge us in the process. They’re not supposed to be easy.

And they don’t go on forever.

There’s no mountain in any race I’ve ever been in or heard of that doesn’t have a peak. Eventually, if we pace ourselves, stay calm and positive, and continue to push forward despite the pain and discomfort, we’ll reach the top, and will soon find ourselves working our way downhill with momentum.

This too could be said about life.

I suppose this is a reminder that if you’re going uphill and struggling, keep going. Maybe you need to change your speed or reset your expectations. But if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’ll conquer the mountain in due time and you’ll be glad that you did.