This past Friday night/Saturday morning, history was made. Not as some expected, not as some wanted. But nonetheless, “the world is now just 25 seconds away from under two hours” (Eliud Kipchoge). I can’t imagine the questions and undeserved regret after finishing that run, but here is yet another example of the indomitable power of the human spirit and where it’ll get us.
“No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
“Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after collapsing at the finish line, I figured I was dead.”
(both from Roger Bannister)
Breaking 2 is reminiscent of the same feelings – is it even possible to run that quickly for that long? Can the human body take it? Will they be able to finish? Will they die?
No one I know is trying to break 2. Not even close. But we do things each day, each week, each workout that reflect these same feelings. Can we get through a day of work after being up with a sick child and only getting two hours of sleep? Can we set our alarm for 5:45 am after working until 1 am on a school paper? Can we show up on a Wednesday morning after a hard training workout Tuesday night and still do every single burpee we’re supposed to? Can we run continuously for 30 minutes, up and down stairs, and do it harder than we did last month?
The questions and uncertainty are what add that zest to our lives. We need to attempt things that we’re not positive is possible. And if we don’t achieve what we set out to do, how boring would it be if we gave up right then, swearing that we wouldn’t be “failures” again”? That’s not a life I want to live. And that’s not a life I want to see you living.
It’s uncomfortable to do less than your expectations. And it’s even harder to be OKAY with that. Being okay with “failing” isn’t about lowering your expectations; it’s about reframing failure. It’s based on believing that instead of judgment, you should offer yourself an opportunity to learn from your losses. If it were easy all the time – if you had always been able to finish a six mile run like it was a walk in the park – life wouldn’t be as spicy.
So challenge yourselves this week. Set your alarm a little earlier than usual and run to the workout. Put yourself in the “medium cheetah” group instead of the “slow cheetah” group. Do five extra push-ups in a Del Hundo and give your partner a break.
Wake up with resolve, face to the grindstone, and gitterdone. Be hilariously terrible at something and smile through it. Give yourself the opportunity to surprise yourself. And never forget to just keep showing up.
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Thanks for the reminder!! Great to remember at the start the week, thank you!