Melancholy & DEAD ENDS
After successfully finishing the #antelopecanyonultras 100. I experienced an overwhelming sense of melancholy. Even a month out I still couldn’t get a rhythm going. I knew I had signed-up for a @shore2shorerace last year while riding the high off my 70K (my first ultra), but I was going to bail. I was tired, still recovering, and goalless. Thankfully I have some amazing friends (@litrailrunningclub @givin_it_a_tri@bradfinnruns ) and they inspired me to get back to it. You see, instead of succumbing to melancholy when it strikes, we must recognize that emotions are natural, but we have control over how we respond to them. We can choose to take action.
So, off to races or what I told myself was a fun long run with my friends. I woke up, had my overnight oats and coffee, my stomach wasn’t feeling it, but I chalked it up to pre-race jitters. At the race, the energy was electrifying and the first half was going smooth, until I took my first bit of nutrition in. My stomach turned and I felt like I had hit a dead-end. All my momentum was blunted and my euphoric feeling was replaced with misery.
Ultrarunning, just like life, can present us with unexpected setbacks and challenges. Whether it's hitting a physical or mental wall, getting lost on the trail, or struggling with fatigue and doubt, these obstacles can feel like dead ends that threaten to derail our progress. When facing a setback in an ultrarun, it's important to first accept and acknowledge, but not dwell on these negative emotions. Instead, embrace the challenge as part of the journey and focus on what you can control.
Next, adapt to the situation. The #stoic concept of "amor fati" or "love of fate" encourages us to embrace and accept the things that are beyond our control. This means accepting the setback as part of your race experience and finding ways to adapt to it. It could be adjusting your pace, refocusing your mindset, or problem-solving to find a solution.
Finally, remember to keep moving forward. Next time you encounter a dead end in a race or life, remember that it's not the end of the road. You just have to take action. #ultrarunning#trailrunning
