Two weekends ago, I found myself wanting to give up. It was hot. It was humid. And I was on my longest run for my marathon training to date. Every ounce of me wanted to quit marathon training after that 12-mile run. Every ounce of me wanted to quit during that run. I kept telling myself, “don’t stop now” during the run. I know many of you can relate to this feeling in training. The feeling of wanting to give up. The feeling that it is too much to keep going.
I realized quickly that the adversity and challenge I faced in that run would help power me through the rest of the training. The following weekend I had a nine-mile run and was in absolute cruise control. Powering through the adversity of the twelve-mile run gave me the confidence and the ability to be dialed in during my next run. The training isn’t over, and I know there will be more long runs to come that will test every ounce of my ability as I get closer to the 26.2 miles.
We all will face challenges when trying to achieve our goals on the field or in life. Heck, we might even fail trying to achieve our goals. But we can overcome any challenges that are thrown our way. We can find ways to power through adversity, even if it may seem like we can’t. People will always tell us we can’t do something or that it is too hard to do. Don’t let that stop you from believing in yourself, following your heart, and going after what you want. No challenge can stop you from pushing through,
How Can We Overcome Challenges?
There are various tools and techniques we can use to help us power through the times of adversity and any challenges that may come our way during our training or when we are on our journey to achieving our goals.
- Positive Self-Talk: Austin has talked about this numerous times. We are all constantly engaged in internal dialogues within our minds, and shifting your self-talk can change your perception and help put you back on track regarding your goals. Positive self-talk can be an absolute game-changer for your mindset. A 2020 study found that positive self-talk can motivate and help improve technical performance for those participating in sports.
- Know Your Not Alone: You always want to achieve your goals on your own. But every person has had adversity come their way. Others have found ways to overcome their challenges. There is never harm in reaching out to a coach or a mentor to seek advice on how to take that next step. You’re not alone. There are people out there who care about you and will want to help you achieve your goals.
- Setbacks Are Opportunities: When setbacks happen, remind yourself that they are opportunities. They can feel like failures, but know that those setbacks are chances to learn, grow, and become a better you. Setbacks provide attractive growth opportunities and the chance for you to return better than ever. It does not mean your goals are all of a sudden unobtainable.
- Nothing Worth It Ever Comes Easy: You have probably heard this everywhere. Know that it is your journey and that whatever comes along the way, you can handle it and get through it. Go into it, knowing that you will face obstacles. Those obstacles will strengthen you and your character. The experiences you have will help better shape you for success. And when you achieve your goal, it will taste even sweeter in the end!
