FEATURE STORY
> big challenge , start the journey by taking that first small step , and then another , and another , moving ultimately to that giant leap forward
4 . GIVE YOURSELF REASONS TO SUCCEED The bolder the plan , the more adversity we will face . While I was clear about the upside of taking this challenge on , I needed to tilt the odds with a little karmic magic and committed myself to raise $ 25,000 for charity . As the long hours of brutal training took its toll , ultimately culminating in injury , my resolve weakened . Seeing my goal start to slip away , I decided I had had enough and called it quits . The next day , I received a large and unexpected sponsorship donation . It was like a wake-up call , and it reignited my commitment to my goal .
Once in the desert , I started blogging to raise more funds , resulting in a slew of supportive emails from family , friends , and strangers . Every time that pain hit me and I contemplated quitting , I focused on those emails and found the strength to continue . Having a cause helped tether my actions to a higher purpose . Running , like many of life ’ s activities , can make you feel extremely isolated . Running to benefit others , however , does not . To combat adversity , invent a purpose and grow your own wings .
5 . SOLICIT HELP , BUT NOT TOO MUCH After signing up to run the Gobi , I began to solicit help in preparing for the race from those closest to me . Before I knew it , many others started to offer their thoughts , opinions , and advice . All of a sudden , everyone was deemed an expert on how to run a desert marathon . It rapidly got to be too much . I had too many chefs in my kitchen !
One of the first actions you should work on when taking on a major endeavor is to get oriented and build a plan . Getting oriented requires the assistance of others , and the challenge is to know when we have enough data points to create the blueprint . Too little information results in an ill-conceived plan , while too much may result in a state of paralysis and inaction . The desert was the perfect leadership metaphor . I needed to collaborate with others , but I would ultimately face this challenge alone . I heard and considered others ’ opinions , but I decided on my own course of action . In the final analysis , there is only one chef in your life ’ s kitchen and that chef is you .
6 . FIRST , TRAIN YOUR ATTITUDE When facing a challenge , we typically dedicate the majority of our time to acquiring a new skill rather than training our attitude so that the new skill can flourish . After signing up for the Gobi , the best advice I got was that it was more mental than physical . That simple statement would drive everything I did .
YES , I HAD TO LEARN TO RUN , BUT IN THE END I WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON MY MIND TO FINISH .
Since it was the middle of winter , I couldn ’ t simulate running in the hot desert . Instead , I decided to train my attitude by only running when I didn ’ t want to .
I ran at midnight , after a meal when I felt full , during storms and blizzards , when I was sick , and whenever my inner voice said , “ I don ’ t feel like it .” If it was a beautiful sunny day , I did not run but did strength training instead . My training miles would add up to less distance than for the average Gobi runner , but every time I ran , I built the resources required to deal with the severe conditions of the desert .
7 . CEMENT NEW HABITS Completing the ultra-marathon was certainly a challenge , but it wasn ’ t anywhere near as demanding as completing the training . Although I was committed to my promise , I needed a strategy to anchor new daily training habits and to keep myself focused — especially when I was aching , busy , or simply didn ’ t feel like running .
Early on , I developed tactics like leaving my running shoes next to my bed exactly where my feet would touch the floor when I woke up , or even going to bed wearing my running gear . I created small reminders to think proactively about the training , such as writing “ Gobi ” on the bathroom mirror or adding Gobi reminders to my calendar .
Although the conventional wisdom says it takes twenty-one days to create a new habit , our old habits are so deeply ingrained that changing them isn ’ t so simple . In order to make a new habit stick , it ’ s best to create strategies to help stay the course until we naturally derive so much benefit from the new habit that we adhere to it on our own . Only then can our intentions become cemented into lasting new habits .
8 . ADD LEVITY TO YOUR LOAD Taking on a difficult project will bring its share of ups and downs . To get to the finish line fast , it is imperative to rapidly bounce back from the downs to minimize the loss of momentum . Although counter-intuitive , sometimes we need to increase our burden in order to lighten it up .
As I prepared to race the Gobi , I became obsessed with what I would carry with me as part of my 20- to 25-pound allotment . I discovered that maximizing output is more than just a numbers game . For instance , running the Gobi taught me how small luxuries can lead to a better end result . Although bulky and heavy , I carried two bottles of champagne , totaling six pounds , and cigars so I could complete each day with a toast and invite teammates to my little desert party . Others carried such oddball items as homemade salamis or full dinnerware and a tablecloth to cement their own celebrations .
Is it “ best practice ” to drink warm champagne and smoke cigars after running a marathon , especially knowing that these items add 25 percent more weight to your backpack ? Of course not ! However , if you are looking to bounce back after a tough day , then using counterintuitive tactics to add a dose of laughter to your challenge may actually help you spring forward .
9 . LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS I started the Gobi just hoping to finish it , free of other expectations . On the fourth day , I was advised that I was leading the 40- to 49-year-old category . From that point on , I started to run not to lose . In doing so , I added a host of invisible baggage
18 | SPRING 2017