Are we happy because we race well or do we race well because we’re happy?
Before the recent 3k OCRWC World Championship race, I traded in my social self for a serious one (big mistake – more on that later) and ended up running a sub-par race. Super nervous the day before? Super disappointed after? With over 300, trust me – this is NOT my style.
(I know that style is not emotionally sustainable, but something about turning 40 shifted my usual do-your-best, have-fun, don’t-get-too-caught-up-in-the-outcome race mindset that has allowed me to experience immense joy while racing for 25 years.)
Something had to change.
So, the next day, I sought out every baby, kid, dog, and weirdo in a costume I could find, and my mood lifted with every drool and barf-filled smile.
The result?
I lined up for the team relay the following day relaxed and feeling more like my old self again. My friends and I worked together, raced well, and had a blast! Mission accomplished. Oh, and we did win, too – but that was just a bonus.
You put in the work toward – you committed with heart and soul. You stuck with it no matter what, through setbacks and unforeseen obstacles. You never lost faith in your ability to improve. Only you know what that took. Remember those extra obstacles Life threw at you near the end there? That was to test your fortitude and commitment. You passed, with flying colors. Congrats.
Don’t get too caught up in whether did or did not achieve your exact goal, whether you reached the proverbial mountaintop or had to turn back early due to fatigue, a twisted ankle, or bad weather (that is, things you could or could not control).
You chose this trail. You enjoyed it – both the good views/smooth trail AND the tricky spots. The mountain never promises easy footing and good weather. Mountains do what mountains do – they challenge you. They can lift you up AND knock you down. So keep climbing, keep your head up, and keep showing those mountains what you’re made of. (Oh, and remember to stop and enjoy the view.) 😊
We won the OCR World Championship Pro Women’s Team Relay today! Two years in a row! What a wonderful consolation prize after coming up short of my outcome goal on Friday.
Hannah Holmes started us out in the lead, and Kris Rugloski and I both added to it, until the very end, where we three joined back up, worked through the last few obstacles together, finishing strong, with big smiles.
I’d like to give a huge shout-out to Kris for an incredible weekend of back-to-back racing and to Hannah for overcoming her fear of a psychological obstacle that involves a big, high leap from a platform to a slanted wall with only a pipe to grab.
A big thank you goes to OCRWC for adding in such a fantastic team event. It reminds me of the 4x400m relay at the end of a track meet – no matter how your race/races went that day, the relay at the end gives you a chance to put your Self aside and focus on the team, which often brings out a level of performance we didn’t know we were capable of, since it’s for something bigger than us. (Speaking of, our t-shirts are from Steve McCollum of Back2back ministries – check out what B2b does for kids in poverty around the world!)
Yes, we love to compete, but really, we are all just out here using sport to become the best version of ourselves. Obstacle course racing provides an opportunity to practice the life skills of mental fortitude, pivoting, learning from mistakes, and – during the relay, communication and teamwork – a fun and challenging way to build life skills!
A sports psychologist once told me to plan something fun to do after a race so that no matter the outcome of the race, I have something to get my mind off things. My old coach, Hobie, told me to wear my Wonder Woman costume and cheer on the kids at the kids race, which he knew would be meaningful to me and make me smile.
This got me thinking of a list I’ve never seen but that could be valuable…
How to Fail Gracefully
1) Despite failing (real or perceived), finish the race/project/speech, etc. as well as possible. In other words, don’t quit just because you’re falling short of your goal. Shift your mindset, pivot, and finish with your best.
2) Congratulate the winner (if it is a competition), and be genuine – they worked hard, too.
3) Allow yourself to grieve the loss of achieving the goal. If you truly went for it, you’re going to feel disappointed. Let the sadness hit ya, cry it out, etc. Talk with a partner or friend. Express frustration. It’s all normal and healthy.
4) Take care of yourself – eat, drink, shower – even if it takes effort to get off the pout couch.
5) Sleep, and if you can – don’t set an alarm. It may take awhile to fall asleep, as thoughts and analyzations race through your head (a meditation app can help) and getting a full night’s sleep recharges emotional batteries.
6) Wake up with a mantra that challenges you to have the best day possible. Let go of the idea that you disappointed people. People just want to see you happy, and there was never assurance that hitting the goal was going to make you happy anyway. Remember, “happiness is an inside job.”
7) Pick a new goal you’re excited about and get after it. If it’s the same goal as before, analyze how you can go for it better and take action toward that new plan right away. (Need to work on grip strength? Join that climbing gym! Need to work on presentation skills? Hire that speech coach!)
I thought I had to win a world championship to write my own book/make a course/catapult my public speaking career on how to have a Winner’s Mindset, but perhaps what the world could use is a book called “Loser’s Mindset: How to stay energized and focused after falling short of a goal.”
How’s that for a pivot? J I’m proud of myself. Today is turning out to be a wonderful day already! Thanks again for all the unconditional love and support, everyone!
Ever want something really badly, and go after it with all you’ve got, only to come up short?
I have, many times. And today, unfortunately for me, was no exception…yet despite feeling disappointed, there’s always a sense of accomplishment that comes with committing to a goal, regardless of the outcome.
After going out strong and poised today, in the small lead group at the top of the big hill, nearly halfway through the race, I got a little hung-up on a funky strength-based obstacle (La Gaffe) but made it through and raced on with determination, still in the top four.
At a new ninja-based obstacle called DropZone, I took a risk to make up time and attempted to lache through it rather than monkey-bar it. It worked, until it don’t. I fell of near the end, my arms pumped, tried again right away and fell right off again. 😩
As I felt my big goal slip from my grasp, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, shifting my mindset to finishing as well as I could, no matter the current circumstance, seeing it as a chance to practice the life skill of pivoting. 👍
With newfound energy, I took my friend on the sideline’s advice and persevered through the obstacle with a new technique, and then raced my heart out to run down the person in front of me.
Although it’s easy to think that I did not train that hard all year to finish in seventh place, I also have enough respect for the women from around the world who finished ahead of me to know that seventh is still something to be proud of.
Congrats to everyone who raced, especially Kris Rugloski (3rd), Lindsay Webster (2nd), and Ida Mathilde for bring him gold! I’m happy for you three.
Ever want something really badly, and go after it with all you’ve got, only to come up short? 💚
I have, many times. And today, unfortunately for me, was no exception…yet despite feeling disappointed, there’s always a sense of accomplishment that comes with committing to a goal, regardless of the outcome. 👍
After going out strong and poised today, in the small lead group at the top of the big hill, nearly halfway through the race, I got a little hung-up on a funky strength-based obstacle (La Gaffe) but made it through and raced on with determination, still in the top four.
At a new ninja-based obstacle called DropZone, I took a risk to make up time and attempted to lache through it rather than monkey-bar it. It worked, until it don’t. I fell of near the end, my arms pumped, tried again right away and fell right off again (overconfident that my recent bout with golfers elbow hadn’t affected my overall strength and grip endurance very much). 😩
As I felt my big goal slip from my grasp, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, shifting my mindset to finishing as well as I could, no matter the current circumstance, seeing it as a chance to practice the life skill of pivoting. 👍
With newfound energy, I took my friend on the sideline’s advice and persevered through the obstacle with a new technique, and then raced my heart out to run down the person in front of me. 💥
Although it’s easy to think that I did not train that hard all year to finish in seventh place, I also have enough respect for the women from around the world who finished ahead of me to know that seventh is still something to be proud of. 😊
Congrats to everyone who raced today, especially @krisruglowski (3rd), @lindsaywebster (2nd), and @idamatilde for bring him gold! 🏆 I’m happy for you three.
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you land among the stars.” ~ Les Brown
So anybody too afraid to put themselves out there, too afraid to fail. To some, I did just that. And even though it’s a bit disappointing, it’s still totally worth it.
It seems to me like life is always better when you go for big goals, because even if you miss them, the lessons you learn along the way make you a better person. ❤️
Ever want something really badly, and go after it with all you’ve got, only to come up short? 💚
I have, many times. And today, unfortunately for me, was no exception…yet despite feeling disappointed, there’s always a sense of accomplishment that comes with committing to a goal, regardless of the outcome. 👍
After going out strong and poised today, in the small lead group at the top of the big hill, nearly halfway through the race, I got a little hung-up on a funky strength-based obstacle (La Gaffe) but made it through and raced on with determination, still in the top four.
At a new ninja-based obstacle called DropZone, I took a risk to make up time and attempted to lache through it rather than monkey-bar it. It worked, until it don’t. I fell of near the end, my arms pumped, tried again right away and fell right off again (overconfident that my recent bout with golfers elbow hadn’t affected my overall strength and grip endurance very much). 😩
As I felt my big goal slip from my grasp, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, shifting my mindset to finishing as well as I could, no matter the current circumstance, seeing it as a chance to practice the life skill of pivoting. 👍
With newfound energy, I took my friend on the sideline’s advice and persevered through the obstacle with a new technique, and then raced my heart out to run down the person in front of me. 💥
Although it’s easy to think that I did not train that hard all year to finish in seventh place, I also have enough respect for the women from around the world who finished ahead of me to know that seventh is still something to be proud of. 😊
Congrats to everyone who raced today, especially @krisruglowski (3rd), @lindsaywebster (2nd), and @idamatilde for bring him gold! 🏆 I’m happy for you three.
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you land among the stars.” ~ Les Brown ⭐️
For anybody too afraid to put themselves out there, too afraid to fail, today essentially, I did just that. And even though it’s disappointing, of course, it’s still totally worth it. 💚
It seems to me like life is always better when you go for big goals, because even if you miss them, the lessons you learn along the way help you grow as a person. ❤️
I mean, training for this race got me to commit to two minutes a day of meditation (see blog link above), and it’s a habit I plan to keep up, so that’s a life win right there. 😁
