How to Be More Resilient

Did you know you can become more resilient? 

You’re not born with it?

When people ask me how I’ve run 134 100-mile races, a high level of resilience is one of the secrets.

Resilience is defined as, “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change,” or, “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.” 

Easily and quickly are the key words and I have a great example from last weekend.

After two years of cancellations, I was finally going to get to run my 19th Massanutten 100.  

I was driving up the interstate to the race and came over a hill to find traffic at complete stop. I stopped quickly but safely behind the car in front of me. 

The truck behind me did not.

It smashed into my SUV at full speed, ramming me into the car ahead of me.

The driver fled the scene, as did the car I got rammed into, and none of the drivers around reported it.

Mind-boggling.

An ambulance ride and several hours in the emergency room later, I was pronounced “ok” and released.

I walked out amazed to be alive and awed to be stiff, sore yet still in one piece enough to consider running the race. But with gear scattered everywhere in a smashed-up, rained-in car at the tow yard and rental car companies closed for the night, there was no way I’d make it in time.

This wasn't remotely how I expected the race to go.

So here are the three resilient things I did to bounce back fast. 

First, as quickly as I could around the shock, I accepted it. 

No point in wasting time wishing things were different. Just because it wasn't what I planned didn’t mean it shouldn’t have happened.

I don’t run the universe and this was the universe’s business. My business was how I dealt with it now that it happened.

I felt the loss and let it pass, as many times I needed.

The second thing was inventorying my new options. 

What was possible? What opportunities did this create?

I saw two main options - go home to recover or go to the race and volunteer, maybe even pace someone.

Of the two, I chose to go volunteer/pace because the race only happens once a year and I wanted to join in however I could.

Third - and THE most important step - I lined my thinking up behind my decision. 

I decided, “This will be different than I planned, and that’s ok.” 

“There are gifts in this and I’m going to find them.” 

“This could be fun.”

And my favorite, “This could turn out better than running the race.”

I ended up pacing a first-time 100-mile runner for two sections, and my friend John for the rest of the race - almost 40 miles total.

I got to try a new skill - pacing - and see how to improve at it, meet a fascinating runner and hear about running across Canada, learn by watching a variety of runners come through the 78-mile aid station in the dead of night, spend time I wouldn’t have otherwise with my friend John, run faster than I have in forever to meet cutoffs at the last three aid stations (with sore ribs but actually fun!), and help others.

Lots of new wins.

If you’re an ultrarunner, you know about the unexpected and how important it is to be resilient.

To recover quickly and easily enough from problems to finish your race.

It’s an ability you can develop - I did. I wasn’t born with it.

If you want to become more resilient, I can help.

Email me to schedule a consult call and talk how to build the resilience you dream of.