Do what you can until you can do what you want!
|
This is from a post on 11/15/2019 on Facebook. Shortly after my second-place finish at the Pumpkin Holler 100. I love revisiting old posts and letting my past self preach to my present self. ;) “Until you can do what you want, do what you can. Always moving forward.”That has been my philosophy for as long as I can remember. When I had my second and third knee surgery from the “great trampoline mishap of 2015”, my running was sidelined....possibly done. (Side note: Trampolines are the devil!) I was on crutches for 6 weeks after surgery. No running, no walking, no weight on my right leg. I was tempted to sit back and do nothing...to enjoy the time off. Instead, I chose to keep moving forward. I kept the early morning routine. I crutched my lame butt into the gym and worked on my upper body and core....using the endless rope pull machine to get some sort of cardio. When I was able to start running again, the other parts of my body would be strong and ready for the rebuild. Going into the Pumpkin Holler 100, that knee randomly got achy again during the final weeks of training. I attributed it to the weather and kept pushing forward. I had a pretty good race, but the knee was not happy afterward. Some swelling and aching. As I have big goals for next year, I’m choosing to be smart and take it easy for now. I’m still keeping my 2-mile-a-day run streak going, but that is followed mostly by strength training and strategic leg exercises. Being smart. Doing what I can until I can do what I want. (Click here for the Pumpkin Hollar 2019 podcast/race report) Let’s face it, sometimes life can come down hard on us. It’s the same in life. Many times we find ourselves in a situation that is less than ideal. Let’s face it, sometimes life can come down hard on us. We end up in a place where we DO NOT want to be. Sometimes it’s our own fault we are there, but often we have nothing to do with the situation we are in. It is here we have a choice. It’s right there in the middle of a bad situation we can choose to have a pity party....to be a victim...to choose to be powerless. OR we can choose to do what we can until we CAN do what we want. If you are not where you want to be now, ask yourself, “What can I do right now that will help me get to where I want to be?” No matter how small the task, it’s still progress. Take control. Take responsibility. Don’t worry about blame or make excuses. Be smart. Move forward. Do work! On the Journey, David |
Run the Riot
Hey friends, Let’s be real for a minute—running outside in the heat, wind, or rain makes you tougher. The unpredictability of the elements sharpens both your body and your mindset. There’s no climate control. No “pause” button. You learn to adapt. You build grit. But let’s not act like the treadmill’s soft. There’s a different kind of strength required when you're staring at the same wall or window for miles. No breeze, no change of scenery—just the hum of the belt and your own voice...
Hey friends! I wanted to take a moment to share something I’m incredibly grateful for… This week, I found out that Run the Riot Podcast was listed #5 on Feedspot’s 30 Best Ultra Running Podcasts! How cool is that?? You can check out the full list here: 30 Best Ultra Running Podcasts I never started the podcast for recognition—I started it because I love this community and I’m fascinated by the stories behind the miles. That this little podcast has grown and connected with so many runners is...
You Weren’t Meant to Run Alone Hey Reader, This past weekend, something special happened at the Prairie Spirit 100. I was out there testing out my knee and pushing through another 100-mile race. I'll probably speak to that more in a future podcast. I had some observations as I watched others around me. Photo by Mile 90 Photography Sure, there were some strong runners. Some big, crazy, buckle-worthy efforts. Records broken. And plenty of grit on display. But what stood out most to me wasn’t...