Grief, Resilience, and World Champs Runner-up
Like they say, never underestimate the power of the mind.
Thank you, everyone who shared personal stories of resilience when I asked for some on social media. Inspired by you, I finished the OCRWC World Championship 3k with a silver medal (my highest-ever finish at a world championship), despite losing sleep and emotional energy over my father‘s passing the week before.
And then, at 42 years-old and significantly older than my competition, I woke up the next morning, pushed aside all excuses not to toe the start line again, raced the 15k race (which ended up being 10 miles) up and down a steep mountainside, carried a 50lb sandbag over a rock quarry, and swung through monkey bars, right onto the world championship podium again.
When I thought perhaps I couldn’t do it, my heart reminded me that I could, as I remembered how many people are dealing with life obstacles far greater than my own.
The power of human resilience – what a force.
Tags: athlete, coach, goals, life, living, mindset, running, training