Never Again
Sometimes I feel like my struggles are unique and that I’m the only one who deals with self-doubt or limiting beliefs.
Clearly, I’m not the only one. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have such a booming market for antidepressants, motivational seminars, or social media influencers.
That’s why I like to call attention to stories that help break down those destructive thoughts. I love stories that enable us to relate with the individuals pursuing similar paths or who have blazed their way before us with some degree of success.
I recently listened to a podcast between Dylan Bowman and Yassine Diboun—two ultrarunners that I respect and draw inspiration from—and they recalled a 100-mile race they participated in years ago. They both laughed as they talked about how a few of the frontrunners, themselves included, were saying mid-race that they’d never do another 100 again. That 100s are too long, and it’d be better to stick to 50-mile races or less.
The irony is that these guys are elite ultrarunners, yet they questioned their choices to toe the line at a challenge like a 100-mile race early in their careers. More importantly, they questioned their ability. But, as history has shown, they went on to test themselves again and succeeded in many cases.
Their story brought a smile to my face—what a familiar sentiment. I remember saying these same things to my friend during the Old Dominion 100 last month. I remember saying I’d never do another 100 and that 50-mile races could be my sweet spot. After I failed to finish my race that day, I struggled initially. I feared that I wasn’t good enough and possibly incapable of running a 100-mile race.
Hearing Dylan and Yassine be open about their personal experiences with big races helped me realign my focus and accept my fear. The thoughts I was wrestling with weren’t exclusive to me—they are a shared experience among anyone looking to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and into the world of great suffering and challenge.
I'm reminded of a quote by Steven Pressfield from The War of Art; “Fear doesn't go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.”
Regardless of where you are on your journey to something greater, remember that fear is inevitable and universal. The more quickly we can accept the fear and avoid using it as an excuse, the faster we can progress towards our calling.
