If you haven’t been reading my blog for long, you may or may not know that I love to run.  I’m no speedy Gonzalez or ultra-runner.  Far from them.  Instead, I run for the love of nature, the sheer physicality of it, and because it clears my mind of clutter and opens me up to my most creative thoughts.

I ran in a trail running event recently.  Because I am a middle-of-the pack kind of runner, I had a lot of time to observe nature, the other runners, and my own thoughts and running performance.   I walked away with a sense of accomplishment, an appreciation for the incredible mountains in my hometown, and ten lessons that I could relate to navigating any challenge worth pursuing.

1. Goals: Knowing your goal helps you mentally prepare for what you are about to do.  If you plan for quick and easy, and it turns out to be hard, then you are not likely to be able to continue without some frustration.  On the other hand, if you plan for a long, hard run (pun intended), you expect it and are open to it.  Your tolerance for a challenge is higher and will help get you through.
2. Preparedness: You will never be as prepared as you think you need to be; don’t let it keep you from starting that thing you’ve always wanted to do.  The key is to prepare just enough to not hurt yourself and be willing to learn – and adjust – on the fly what you need to do to keep going.
3. Persistence: Starting is half the battle; the other half is continuing.  Persistence and progress are where the payoff and sense of accomplishment lie, so keep going as long as you can.
4. Discomfort: A little pain can be a good thing.  If you are stretching yourself and reaching for audacious goals, it’s bound to hurt a bit.  Embrace it; it will make you stronger!
5. Kindness: Don’t dismiss the kindness of strangers.  They may have wisdom, experience, resources, or encouragement to share with you that can help make the difference in your journey.  In my case, I was given salt tablets by a fellow runner.  The salt helped uncurl my cramped toes at the peak of our run, allowing me to get back onto the trail quickly.  In starting new projects or trying something new, I’ve received equally helpful advice and encouragement from total strangers I met in passing.
6. Pacing: A good running strategy is to run quickly when you can (like on a flat or downhill area) so that you can rest a little if you need to on the uphill challenges without losing much time or steam.  The same goes for pursuing your goals…speed towards opportunity and pace yourself to make sure you can achieve it.
7. Reserves: Motivation, momentum, and energy are quickly consumed.  To keep from burning out, try to keep a handle on these three things and be sure to keep something in reserve – or know who you can turn to who can help keep you going.
8. Competition: Yes, there are other people on the course trying to reach the same end-point you are, but, in the end, you are only competing against yourself.  Watch them to learn, but keep your own motivations, goals, and performance in front of you.  On a side note, competition also comes in the form of competing priorities.  If you truly want to pursue something, the hardest thing will be make sure it comes out on top of the list.
9. Access: If you have the grit to pursue a difficult goal, you’ll experience things that few other people will.  Why, because it can be scary and most folks will shy away.  By taking on the challenge, you learn, gain new perspective, and have access to opportunities that only those willing to take it up will earn.
10. Fun: Have fun!  If you’re not, why are you doing what you are doing?  Sure there are things we all HAVE to do to reach our goals, but the truth is, if an activity is draining you, you are not likely to give it your all.  Take a step back, assess the situation, and see what you can do to adjust.