the start Line
It all starts with idea. That was the opening line that Squarespace suggested using. Well, I guess they aren’t wrong. It’s fair to say that most things start with an idea.
For me, Beyond Ultra coaching started because I want to share the skills I have managed to collect.
I noticed that on most coaching website there is a section about achievements. ‘My fastest 10k time’, insert title of impressive long run here’.
It seems to come across as I can do these amazing things, which means I can coach you to do it too. Being able to do something yourself, and coaching someone else to do it are two very different things. Patrick Sang, never ran a 1:59 marathon, but he did coach Eliud Kipchoge to do it.
Alas, this is the point where I become a hypocrite. How can you have a coaching website, and not talk about all the cool stuff you’ve done? After all, that makes us who we are. I would rather hear from someone who failed a goal, than someone who's had everything aligned. When things go wrong, great. When you mess up your nutrition, great. Because that’s another stone we can use to crush those bigger goals.
I’d like to say I always hated running and found a way to love it. The truth of the matter is, that I have always loved running. I did cross country and athletics at school, running in county competitions, most of the time being in the top 10. There was a gap in my running until 2nd year of university. I was studying Outdoor Adventure, Leadership and Management. At the time I only really did a degree because I didn’t know what else I wanted to do. Now, I can’t think of anything I would have rather done. I have my parents to thank for channelling that, feral energy.
To kick start my running again, entered a half marathon at Worcester. I punched in a time of 1:36, still my best half marathon, and the last road race I ever did.
Whilst at University I discovered the possibilities of adventures to be had in the UK. Developing my mountain skills, trail and mountain running was the only form that gave me a buzz. I still get the same buzz from it to this day. I am thankful to have had many other adventures between then and now. But I'll save those for another day.
It’s easy to forget that all the work for these challenges is in the months and years leading up to them. Getting to the start line is the hardest point. Sometimes we can get so focused on the what the challenge is, that we forget why we are going out there in the first place. It doesn’t matter your reason or motivation. But it does matter knowing it, and staying true to why you do these things.
To me, starting Beyond Ultra puts me beyond being comfy. But that’s what it is all about right. Learning to be comfortable with discomfort is a fantastic skill. Both in endurance running and life. So here is to getting to the start line of another adventure.