The surprising mindset that helped me finish a 50-mile race—and stick to my goals
When people set health or fitness goals, there's often a wave of excitement and optimism at the start. And I’m all for that positive energy—but I’ve also learned that one of the most powerful things you can do is accept the fact that you won’t always have that energy and excitement.
In fact, I go into every big goal assuming that at some point, this is going to suck.
That mindset has truly been what’s help me survive and keep going. It keeps me grounded. It keeps me realistic. And it’s helped me push through moments where it would have been easy to quit—not because I’m superhuman, but because I saw it coming.
You won’t always feel like it—and that’s okay
I used to think that if I didn’t feel like eating healthy or working out, maybe I just wasn’t motivated enough. But now I know: those moments are part of the process.
So instead of panicking when the motivation fades, I expect it and don’t rely on it. When I don't feel like moving my body, I remind myself, "This is one of the sucky parts I planned for." And then I just try my best. Sometimes it goes perfectly, other times it doesn’t, but I don’t let the emotion rule.
My 50-mile race: the ultimate test of this mindset
When I was training for my first 50-mile ultra marathon, I was confident I could do it, but I knew I would have at least one obstacle to push through. Frankly, anyone that goes into an endurance race feeling differently is kidding themselves. Physically you are asking A LOT of your body, especially in the ultramarathon distance.
So I made a plan ahead of time and communicated it to my support crew: the only way I was allowed to quit was if I was bleeding uncontrollably or had a bone sticking out of my leg. (Yes, really.)
That rule became my anchor when things got rough—especially during mile 41.
I had a blister on my toe pop inside my shoe, and it sent a sharp pain shooting through my foot. I know that might not sound like much, but believe me, it’s TERRIBLE. Every step after that felt like fire. I was limping. By the time I got to where I could take off my shoe and get some attention to my foot a new blister had already formed.
But I hadn’t met my “quit” criteria. So I kept going.
That decision wasn’t about willpower—it was about expectation. I had already decided it was going to suck at some point. So when it did, I wasn’t shocked or defeated. I was prepared.
Expecting struggle doesn’t mean expecting failure
This isn’t about being negative. It’s about being honest. If your goals matter, they’re going to challenge you. And when you expect that, you’re not blindsided. You’re empowered.
Because when the hard moments come—and they will—you won’t waste time wondering if you’re cut out for this. You’ll just nod and say, “Ah, there it is.”
And then you’ll keep going.
YOU GOT THIS
