LIFE LESSON: FLEXIBILITY & GRIT - RUNNING IN TIMES OF THE UNKNOWN
©Nicki Lange
On March 12, exactly four months ago today, I received the message that The Speed Project was canceled. On March 13, Donald Trump, closed the boarders, prohibiting any oversea flights from entering the United States, and we have moved to working from home. Since then, it has truly been an interesting journey in all areas of life.
I guess that I am not wrong to say that many of us - including myself - have underestimated the cheer impact of COVID-19, turning the World on its head. We were faced with lock-downs, isolation and social distance, forcing us to be flexible, reinventing our daily routines and lives. Companies had to rethink their business models and home office became common practice. There has been a great divide between how countries handled the situation on a macro level combined with how citizens responded on a micro level. As life slowly starts to resume, a vaccine has yet to be developed and this pandemic will be part of us for an unforeseeable future. Thus, we must continue to live with care and respect.
Coronavirus lead me to rethink my daily routine, adjusting my schedule and adapting new ways to train. I have been able to run well, collecting around 100 kilometers per week, and I have introduced stretching, foam rolling and meditation, which I have often neglected, slowly forming it into a habit. Yet, it certainly has not always been smooth sailing since COVID-19 hit us. I set out on a spontaneous 100 kilometer run through Englischer Garter in Munich, raising awareness and funds for our relentless medical staff, as well as supporting Morso in Munich and Cafe Kraft in Berlin (Read more: Click here). Unfortunately, this undertaking lead to a sprained ankle, taking me out for close to two weeks. After a short break, I was back on the road, continuing to log good distances. However, after spending a weekend Holland, training at the beach, I picked-up a new injury on my foot.
Fortunately, my concern of a stress fracture has proven to be false, yet the foot is still inflamed and swollen, causing pain, and I cannot put any pressure on it until today. I have been sidelined, unable to run, for more than four weeks by now, which is the first time, since breaking my fibula back in 2010. Although I wish that it was not for Coronavirus, as well as my injury, but a change in routine, offers us time and headspace to think and reflect about life and our ambitions on this planet. In different ways, we are constantly being challenged, forced to rethink and to reevaluate our journey. We need to accept the variables that we cannot control, ensure that we do not dwell, and take care of the ones that are in our hands.
I recently re-watched Billy Yang‘s video (Watch video: Click here), portraying the US team taking on UTMB in 2015, which was the same the year, I stopped in Chamonix, witnessing the start of the race, turning this event into a life goal of mine. With COVID-19 ruling our lives, I believe that seeing life through a sports lens is more relevant than ever. Billy speaks about five characteristics of a runner, which in my humble opinion do not only apply to running, but life overall, offering perspective to tackle unforeseen challenges.
Purpose
Setting a goal offers purposes. It offers an answer to your “why”. Ever so often I get asked about “why I run”, similar probably applies to all people that follow an activity with a deep passion, whether it is playing the piano, painting, or writing a book. In times of doubt and uncertainty, purpose and a goal allow you to persevere. For me, running is an outlet to collect my thoughts and disconnect from the daily hustle, allowing to adjust and reconsider things in life.
Pursuit
There is a saying that it is all about the journey, not the destination. This is especially true, when you are struggling to see your end goal. I must admit that this has been particular true in the last months. I have been injured and races have been cancelled. At times it was hard finding motivation, as I felt floating around with no real direction. I kept reminding myself of the “why”, which in my case remains running around Mont Blanc, thinking back to the journey and the experiences I have been able to collect since 2015, putting my mind back on track. It is all about the process not outcome.
Commitment
Once you have defined your “why”, make sure that you do not lose sight of your goal. In fact, make it become a part of yourself. It is easy to get distracted by short term wins, forgetting about your long term ambition. Commitment is key, not just in sport, but in life. At the end of the day, you do not owe anything to anybody, which also means that you cannot blame anybody but yourself. It is up to you to stay on track, taking the necessary steps to reach your goal. This is called grit.
Patience
Rome was not built in a day, and same applies to your journey. While it can be easy to get obsessed with your passion, starting to rule your daily life. You shall not forget about your purpose, be flexible, do not get stuck or close-minded. I learned that letting go of expectations, and not getting to wind up with it all, means you are performing better. Although discipline and sacrifice are important, flexibility and an open mind are equally important to succeed. Committing to a goal that is bigger than yourself requires patience. It is easy to get frustrated about current situations and seeking instant gratification. Remind yourself that good things take time.
Respect
Although it is not as obvious, running may compare to surfing, skiing, or really any kind of personal challenge. Trail running takes place in nature. You shall show respect to your surroundings, just like you have to respect the waves or the snow. Nature does not give in and the mountains do not get smaller. It is about being humble, respecting the path you chose to conquer the hills. Whether it is the wave you are surfing, the line you are skiing, or the trail you are running, nature will have no mercy. With that being said, respect applies to your environment as whole, including the people and animals that surround you.
Fear
Speaking of surfing or skiing, the fear of death is certainly more apparent, yet the fear to fail and to retire from a race is equally apparent on the trail, or any challenge you may set out to conquer from launching your business to speaking a foreign language. You need to develop an apathy towards pain and suffering, in order to push yourself along. Fear is part of your journey, instead of letting it get in between your goal, make it become part of the experience, as well as be humble enough to accept when external forces are stronger than you on a particular day. Accept it, move on and try again.
I guess it is fair to say that ultra-marathons are not a sprint, and so is life. It requires flexibility and the ability to adopt to new circumstances. I have previously written about the lessons learned from Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc, adding to learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can read more about by following the links:
Life Lesson: Decision Making - Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (Click here)
Life Lesson: Patience & Process - Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (Click here)
Also, if you want to learn more about my running routine, as well as need some inspiration for your body strengthening, you can check out my guides.
Running 101 (Click here)
Mindful Running (Click here)
How to achieve your running goal? (Click here)