BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION-Embrace the Process of Becoming Resilient

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about this heat. I know, I know... I sound like a broken record by now. But there’s no denying that it's been hot and the training has been hard--especially for those who started their official training for the Bass Pro Marathon/Half or for the Dogwood Canyon trail runs recently. But, this is the deal. The summer heat will soon be replaced by cooler fall (aka best running season of the year) temps, which will then give way to wind chills and running on ice and lots of snow. Which is the very reason why this is the perfect time to talk about resilience and the importance of embracing the process of cultivating and practicing it so you can continue running no matter what life throws at you. 

And while resilience is most commonly defined as the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, it can also be defined (as per the American Psychological Association) as the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.

Resilience was something that came to mind yesterday morning after a video popped up on my social media feed (thanks to Lacey Maness, one of our Bass Pro Marathon pacers) showing Pierre Borgella participating in the 2025 Marathon des Sables, an ultramarathon known for being incredibly difficult for even the hardiest of runners. But get this... Pierre is perhaps one of the hardiest runners you’ll ever come across, but he is no ordinary runner. You see, at the age of 18, Pierre's life changed in an instant after a serious scooter accident. Per the officials at the event on race day, "He lost a leg... but never his determination, nor his dreams. Today, he's out there, pushing his limits in the MDS Cappadocia..." They went on to describe his effort as "Unstoppable. Unbreakable. Unforgettable."

Wow right? It makes all our excuses for not getting out there in the heat seem lame doesn’t it? I mean not only did Borgella complete a grueling race with only one leg while using prosthetics, but he did so in the heat of the desert. What sets Pierre apart is his resilience! But you can be sure he didn’t get it overnight. It was a process. That being said, let’s check out some ways that we might gain a mindset like Pierre’s that finds ways around the hurdles of life and refuses to give up regardless of the circumstances. 

First and foremost…

RUN EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO... AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Run when it's raining. Run when it's cold. Run when it's hot. Run when it's humid. Run when you're hungry. Run early in the morning. Run late at night. Run when it's dark. Run trails. Run roads. Run hills. Run when you feel slow. Run when you feel tired. Run when you're in a good mood. Run when you're in a bad mood. Run short. Run long. Run when you feel like crying. Run in every condition so you'll be ready for every condition. Don't wait for the perfect time to run, just run! And always remember... each time you conquer one of these elements, you will not only be more physically resilient but more mentally resilient. And every runner knows, the battle to the finish line is won in the mind. What the mind thinks, the body follows. Which means you must push your limits and push them often if you want to become resilient. 

Secondly….

BE CONSISTENT...
in your running and in your thinking. Being consistent means being unchanging over time and thinking like champions think. Which means constantly and continuously training yourself to be the best you can be by always making your thoughts positive (or at the very least finding one thing positive in every situation) and running regularly. Des Linden said it well after winning the 2018 Boston Marathon despite the torrential downpour and wind that showed up on race day , "There’s value in behaving like a champion every single day for years--in making it a habit. Running rewards consistency and resilience. So does life.” Thinking like a champion, then, means making the determination that you will NEVER give up on achieving any goal, big or small EVER. Because let's face it... you are your biggest rival and you must think like a champion to overcome and surpass that rival.

And lastly….

EMBRACE DIFFICULTIES AND DISTRESS.
I didn't say you had to like the disruptions or hardships that you will experience in running and in life, only that you should look at them for what they are... opportunities to get better, stronger and more flexible. These are opportunities to learn and grow as you find ways to adapt to changing conditions. Think about it. Like I said before, every time you make the intentional decision to work through a problem or prevail over a trial, you win a small battle. And each small battle you win makes you equipped to fight a bigger battle, and then a bigger one and then a bigger one. Overcoming battles teaches you to suffer well while keeping a smile on your face and joy in your heart! This joy may not move the mountain in your way, but it will help you to be happy and sing as you're climbing to the top of it.

So there you have it friends. Resiliency is a skill that's cultivated and grown over time--and a skill that will benefit you both on and off the racecourse. On a final note, I hope you'll consider the mighty oak tree. Heavy rains cause the mighty oak tree to send its moisture-seeking roots deep into the ground to follow the water (making it capable of withstanding drought), and heavy winds cause the tree to become thicker and stronger. Get where I'm going with this? Becoming stronger, more resilient, and deeply rooted is a process that takes time. So hang in there knowing that all the training in good conditions and in bad ones will pay off come race day. Happy Running!