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MOUNTAIN RUNNING

Embrace the Struggle

Monday 16 September 2013, 11:47AM

By Gerrard Smith

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Steve on top of Robert Ridge
Steve on top of Robert Ridge Credit: Fraser Mills

ST ARNAUD - LAKE ROTOITI

"There’s no thrill in easy sailing, when the sky is clear and blue. There’s no joy in merely doing things which anyone can do. But there is some fulfillment that is mighty sweet to take, when you reach a destination you thought you couldn’t make." - unknown.

We are constantly bombarded by marketing, messages and ideas that life should be easier.

We have dishwashers to save time.

Some people have cleaners and people to mow their lawns so they have less to do around the house.

We see images of people relaxing on beautiful tropical beaches.

But do we truly want the easy life all the time? I suspect not.

Why else would we do endurance sports? Endurance sports are hard and take commitment.

We get up at ridiculous hours, force our bodies to do things until we’re tired, then do it all again day after day.

So next time you’re struggling with any aspect of your sport, embrace that struggle.

Remember the struggle is what makes us feel alive and what makes the achievements all that much sweeter:

- When your alarm goes off and it’s cold and dark outside, think of all those others still lying in bed wasting mental energy procrastinating while you get up and get going

- When you’re getting hammered by the wind, grit your teeth, suck it up, and laugh in the face of that wind

- When that hill is making it tough work, remember you have a choice to give up and go home, or challenge yourself to take it on.


Its only a choice

- When it’s raining outside and everyone else wants to stay in the warm and dry, smile quietly to yourself and love the feeling of the elements

- When you’re chasing a competitor but can’t quite catch them, embrace the burn and know your competitor is questioning it

- When you have injury or illness, learn from it, and make changes - find the positives


Embrace the struggle - it means you’re living life as it was meant to be.