The NORTHFACE Endurance Challenge 50 mile Distance

On Saturday November 18, 2017 I completed the Northface Endurance Challenge 50 mile distance.  The race started at 5:00 AM in Sausalito and I finished at 5:20 PM at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  On this twelve hour run, I went into deep thought about facing this endurance challenge head on and going this distance.


Endurance

Endurance is the power to withstand pain or hardships; the ability or strength to continue despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.


Challenge 

Challenges are what makes life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.


Distance

Distance can’t stop what’s meant to be.

Ebb & Flow

All systems ebb and flow.  I found my flow in running when training for Surf City marathon 2016.  Nailing my pace, my race weight, my weekly volume, etc. just flowed from week to week as I trained with friends for my race goal.   However, one is not always in peak form and ebb is a natural process.  Today, I am at my ebb or low point to restart my running routine.  The first step to turn the pendulum is to allow yourself to become absorbed in your running passion.  The more you distant yourself from running the more it will feel like a chore so the goal is to get that daily routine & habit in place regardless of the actual workout.   The second step is to avoid negative self talk that stiffens running passion.  Its ok to be humbled by the current pace you’ve got or the small daily mileage you can absorb in your current shape.  Start small with each days run and the more energy you put into it the more energy you get out.  Before sharing the challenges you are facing with a friend, start with how much you cherish the ability to run injury free and how any challenge you face will erode by the consistent work you can now put into it.  I’m going to do Surf City marathon 2017 and find my flow.

Fitness

Fitness should not be extrinsically valued like we are socially taught with magazine covers.  Fitness should be intrinsically valued to love the training, the gift to experience how going fast or long makes you feel alive, the time you spend with friends training or the mood & energy boost post workout.  Daily fitness is essential behavior to perform in life and have a good day so that we have more energy to give to others.  Fall in love the process and results will follow.

Stay the course

Vineman 70.3

Taking on a major project at work coupled with a booked family summer schedule resulted in placing training on the back burner leading up to this race.  Given lack of training I sill managed to grind out a good race finishing in 5 hours 32 minutes for the 70.3

Time to look ahead with pressing determination to conquer.  The clear objective and stake in the ground remains, sub 5.  To achieve this objective I must press on with focus on efficiency where time is spent leading up to my next race, Santa Cruz 70.3

There are three specifications & sacrifices that must measure up for this performance:
- Race weight
- Consistent execution
- Stress vs Recovery balance

I can and I will.

Half way into 2016

Thoughts drive action and build habits to solidify new circumstances.  Your circumstances reveal you to yourself.    You are where you are so that you learn how to grow.  Take the reigns to improve your circumstances and create it for yourself.   Plant thoughts with positive seeds to focus on, remove weeds hindering growth and re-focus where time/money/attention is needed to align your goals to come to fruition.

Filter

For just a moment, I want you cover your ears with the palm of your hands.  Look away from the screen at something beautiful and feel the elevation in your pulse.  When your focused, you have the ability to heighten your sense of awareness on what you take in visually and with this focus you have the choice to apply a filter.  Filter in and give your energy to what truly makes you happy.  Filter out and take energy away from what is not true.  




Intrinsic Goals actually make you happy.  Intrinsic Goals make us happy by pursuing them.  Pursuit of Intrinsic Goals fulfills the self actualization need of being authentic to your true self in pursuit of Community, Health, Family and Spirituality.  Intrinsic goals make us more generous toward the world and want to help others pursue those same goals.   




Extrinsic Goals don't make you happy.  Extrinsic goals only make you happy when you achieve them but your pursuit for material & popularity excess will never be quenched.  Pursuit of extrinsic goals takes time away from pursuit of intrinsic goals.  Materially inclined friends are too busy and invest less in friendship with you because they care more about their materialistic goals.

Breathe

For one moment, close your eyes and take in a deep breath.  Relax and listen deeply to the heightened sense of sounds around you. 


The practice of being in the moment is a heightened state of consciousness and well being.  If you learn to master your breathing it's your pathway into your heightened senses.  When you recognize tightening in your breath, think of it as a trigger to let what ever it is you are overthinking about go and take a deep breathe to come back to embrace the present.  This condition is a skill to learn & practice in order to be fully engaged in the moment with all of your heightened senses.


Be present for what ever life presents.  Obstacles are your allies that exercise your strength to overcome.  Recognize them but don't be afraid of them, just let them be and move past them.  This is a mindset to see your circumstances in a different way, replacing fear with flow.  Show up for life with all your vulnerability and passion to experience it instead of thinking about it in fear of those things you cannot control. 


When the wave comes in and crashes you down, replace struggle with ease and experience that current rather than fear it which helps your breath go a lot further.  Let go and let it move through you.  Fear is here but I'm not afraid.  Obstacles are here but I'm not struggling.  Be here now to live life, fully engaged in the present unhooked from the minds struggles that will eventually come to pass as you breath deep and let them flow right through.