Go For The Impossibly Possible
Want to see what’s possible for you?
Do this one easy, super simple thing.
Stop thinking you have to be realistic.
Sure, being realistic sounds smart.
And no one will accuse you of overreaching or being arrogant.
But it’s also an unnecessary way you hold yourself back.
Realistic is defined as, “based on what is real rather than on what is wanted or hoped for: not impractical or visionary.”
So being realistic is based on what’s real right now - the results you’ve created so far. What you’ve done in the past up until now.
It’s not what you want or hope for.
It’s also not what’s possible in the future.
Being realistic is like installing your own glass ceiling.
Did you really get into ultrarunning to be realistic? (The question itself is pretty hilarious)
Probably not.
Every new distance takes a leap of faith. You can only be so realistic before you’re faced with making the jump from 100k to 100 miles.
And mountain races, big races like Western States or UTMB, feats like Badwater or an FKT - the challenges that capture your imagination? They definitely don’t require being realistic.
I’m betting you fell in love with ultrarunning because of the impossible possibility of it. The amazing feeling you could run forever and wanting to see what that looks like when no one’s placing limits on you, but you.
By definition, ultrarunning requires a healthy dose of vision and impracticality. It’s the opposite of realistic.
So you have a choice. You can carefully set the bar a tiny bit higher than you’re sure you can do…or set it on your dreams, what’s possible, and what you really want to do.
I invite you to choose the latter, because when you live from what’s possible:
You stay in love with running (being shackled to safe races is boring)
You create new results instead of the same one over and over again
You add more adventure in your life
You give yourself the chance to rise to the occasion
You get to see what you’re capable of, not just wonder
You build more confidence by betting on yourself, no matter how it turns out
Sure, you may DNF, but that’s already a risk for every one of us in every single race, even the supposedly easy ones.
How will you ever see what you can really do if you’re busy being realistic?
Here are three places to start breaking this self-installed glass ceiling:
When you tell others about your race plans do you minimize them by saying you want to be realistic?
What race do you stop yourself from dreaming about because it’s not practical?
How are you signing up for less race distance and challenge than you want, to make sure you finish?
If you want to see what’s really possible for you when you set an impossible goal…
Clear up what’s holding you back…
And take the action to get there…email me - let’s talk.
Going for what’s impossibly possible is easier with support, mindset perspective, and cheerleading by your side.
