Over the course of my Canadian Death Race 125KM Ultramarathon, I shared my experiences via Instagram, which is my current main platform for sharing ideas, thoughts, and experiences. Here is a conglomerate of my Instagram posts for those who do not partake in a frequent schedule of social media. I hope you enjoy my heartfelt words from my most vulnerable, emotional, and reflective states. I am working on a follow up blog that will cover what I ate, what I drank, what I listened to, what I thought about, and more.
JULY 30 - 1 MORE SLEEP
Mind is calm. Body is relaxed. Emotions are high. Spirits are bright. Before sleep, I knew in my mind that I was going to finish without a doubt. It was the most confident I've ever felt in my life about anything so challenging.
SELF-TIPS...SELF-TALK...
- Start slow finish strong
- Celebration over examination
- Steady pace happy race
- Don't be a nut listen to your gut
- Underpromise overdeliver
- Be cool not a fool
JULY 31 - I'M READY...TO DIE TRYING
READY TO ROCK!!!! 125k of Canada's #rockies
Nervous and excited. Anxious and exhilarated. Afraid and loving it. Sometimes the start of the race is overlooked compared to the end of the race. I love pre-race sensations. It's the uncomfortable uncertainty that makes you feel truly alive.
Pre-race jitters makes the end-race glitter.
“What we become – what we are – ultimately consists of what we have been doing.”
JULY 31 - HOW HIGH. HOW DEEP. HOW FAR.
Midway through the race. I hit some major low points. I realized I was looking down and hunched over for these tough times. So I changed my posture and gaze, I started looking around and kept my head up. 'Keep your head up' can be used figuratively, but also literally. It took much of my energy to stay positive, but I know there is always light within me when I think of my family. I used them as a continual source of motivation. I kept moving one foot in front of the other, onwards and upwards.
“If you travel far enough, you will find yourself.
”
AUGUST 1 - I CHEATED DEATH.
Race finish. No words except my signature peace signs up.
This morning at 1am, I finished the most difficult challenge of my life to date. I successfully completed the 125 KM Canadian Death Race in Grande Cache, Alberta. I ran for just over 17 hours, from 8am Saturday to 1am Sunday. I experienced the toughest and most technical terrain; 3 mountain summits of approximately 2000m, unforgiving mud, swamp, small rocks, little rocks, giant rocks, trenches, rivers, heavy bush, and my newest love to hate obstacle; never-ending, death-wish, dreadful downhills. Results aren't official but I believe I came in 22nd.
I am extremely happy to have conquered this extreme Ultramarathon (probably the hardest in Canada; known for its over 50% DNF statistic). It took me to places I am grateful for and fearful of. Places within my psyche and spirit that are capable of anything. It is this capability that I am afraid of. I am realizing it is the fear of my unknown potential that exhilarates me. This FEAR AS FUEL mantra has been a consistent theme throughout my journey of 2016. Compared to last year's ADVERSITY AS FUEL mantra theme, this fear one is extremely powerful, powerful beyond measure. I believe we all have the potential to do amazing things, conquer crazy feats, and inspire others to follow suit. Over the course of my run I had the opportunity to deep-think on the subject of human potential, it boiled down to 3 questions:
1. Am I worth it? (Think along the lines of your self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect, and self-integrity)
2. Do I love myself? (Think about your willingness, meaning, and purpose to challenge oneself for a change to occur)
3. How will I be remembered? (Think about your legacy, integrity, influence, and altruistic actions)
Lastly, I wanted to dedicate this accomplishment to my dad. I ran in honour of his birthday. I ran for him. And I'll keep running for him, because without him, I would not be here. (It's so beautifully ironic how I ran the 'death' race on his 'birth' day.)
AUGUST 2 - FINISHER
You know you're running a race in a category of its own when people don't ask you your finishing time, but just ask whether you finished or not. Grateful to have finished safe and sound.
#completionovercompetition
#integrityoverintensity
#purposeoverpassion
#tenacityovertalent
#attitudeoveraltitude
#legacyovercurrency
“Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
AUGUST 3 - EXTRA DEATH RACE FOOTAGE
Still on a high from my positively traumatic experience conquering the Canadian Death Race in Alberta. Here's some intimate footage and shots of my journey.
Thanks for all of the support and well wishes. It means so much to have a community of people that celebrates accomplishment with praise and admiration.
#couldnotaskformore
#feelingblessed
#feelingloved
#heretocreate
#commitment
#pushittothelimit
#murphyslaw
#rockedit
“What can happen will happen.”
Check out my IG video here.
AUGUST 5 - MAKE A MOLEHILL OUT OF A MOUNTAIN
Humanize to empathize with others (and yourself).
Alain de Botton says to overcome the imposter syndrome, when you are faking it to make it and don't feel worthy, you've got to humanize those that seem like they've made it and are of a perceived high self worth. Make a molehill out of a mountain to gain a realistic perspective. Know that people who may project their superhero, super positive, super powered lives also have super real problems, super sucking kryptonites, and are not super all the time.
When we make this tiny but powerful interpretation it allows us to connect more deeply with others and ourselves, thus seeing that the imposter effect is a self deprecating mechanism that can level the playing field because successes and failures happen to us all.
"Kings and philosophers shit ... and so do ladies" - Michel de Montaigne
I am receiving such beautiful support and praise from friends and family for my recent 125km Ultramarathon finish. I am grateful for it all and wish to send this message above as a way to humanize myself. I am no superhero, I am not better than anyone, I am a man who deals with adversity too. I am just doing what I love and sharing it with the world.