BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Challenge Yourself to rock The Rock

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about the benefits of challenging yourself from time to time and why choosing a race that's not easy is one of the best ways to do it. Why is this important? Because continuing to do what's easy doesn't grow you physically or mentally. And while routines are great for consistency, they aren't great for progress or improvement. 

This is the very reason, runners (and walkers) need to shake things up every once in a while. It's why they need to run hills, sign up for races that make them nervous, try out the trails, run a little farther, push the pace a little faster, and do something that makes them wonder, "Can I really do this?" 

With that being said, if you've never taken part in Bass Pro's Run the Rock event, consider this your sign that you should. Their Race Director (Melissa Bondy-pictured above standing next to the world-famous Dean Cheatham) is one of the very best and has outdone herself in designing a course that's challenging. The official description actually begins with issuing a challenge before describing the challenge... 

Can you rock The Rock? Come join us for our 3 and 6 mile runs at Top of the Rock in Ridgedale, MO where you will challenge your endurance and mental grit while experiencing exhilarating, scenic views you won't find anywhere else. The 6-mile course is one of the most challenging, rewarding runs you will ever complete. Best for experienced runners, this course was not designed to be someone’s first 6 mile run. While most of this course is asphalt, be prepared to run over several different surfaces including, but not limited to, gravel, road, trail, wet rock, metal bridge(s), water and dirt. While this course is hilly and challenging, participants will experience waterfalls, a cave, scenic overlooks and absolutely beautiful surroundings. Spectators will have limited viewing options along the course. The best spots to cheer for your runners will be at the start and finish lines.

With that being said, let's look at some of the benefits of challenging yourself often... 

Adaptation

One of the basic principles of training is adaptation. When we repeatedly give our bodies the same stimulus, we become efficient at handling it. While that's a good thing, eventually, doing the same thing over and over may stop producing the same improvements. A new challenge asks your body to adapt again.

Running hills can challenge muscular strength and cardiovascular fitness. Trails can require more balance, coordination, and stabilization than smooth pavement. A longer distance challenges endurance. Speedwork asks your cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems to operate differently. Even changing terrain can recruit muscles in ways your normal route doesn't.

The goal for adaptation isn't to make every run brutally difficult, but to strategically include challenges that encourage the body to grow without overwhelming it--remembering that stress + recovery = adaptation.

The challenge provides the stimulus. Recovery gives your body the opportunity to become stronger.

Brain Training

Some of the greatest benefits of challenging yourself have nothing to do with your legs. Sure, running is physical, but anyone who has ever reached the difficult miles of a race knows how quickly it becomes mental. Your legs say, This is hard. Your brain says, Maybe we should stop. That's where mental training begins.

Every time you voluntarily do something difficult and continue despite discomfort, you collect evidence that you are capable of handling hard things, evidence that your body stores and brings back up when necessary. 

You learn the difference between “This is uncomfortable” and “I can't do this.” Those are two very different things.

Over time, challenging runs can also teach patience, persistence, problem-solving, confidence, and resilience. You discover that discomfort doesn't automatically mean failure.

Confidence Building

Confidence isn't something we magically acquire on race morning. It's built during training. Think about the first time you ran a mile without stopping. At one point, a mile probably sounded difficult. Then you did it. Eventually you ran three miles. Then maybe six. Then 13.1. Maybe 26.2. Perhaps even farther.

But this is the deal... every challenge changes your definition of what you believe is possible. When you accomplish something that once intimidated you, you carry that confidence into the next challenge. You start thinking: I climbed that hill, I finished that difficult workout, I kept moving when I wanted to quit, or I handled that tough race. 

This physical confidence spills over into mental grit. And don't we all need that? 

Keeping Running Fun

There's another reason runners should occasionally challenge themselves: It keeps running interesting.

Running the same distance at the same pace on the same route every week can eventually start feeling more like an obligation than an adventure. Which is the very reason it's good to change it up once in a while by running somewhere you've never run or on terrain that you've never run before.

This, most likely, will lead to a combination of thoughts of “This sounds awesome!” and “What have I gotten myself into?” This combination is something that the Bass Pro Fitness Series of events is famous for! They’ve got a race and a distance that will challenge everyone. 

And there you have it friends. Those are some great reasons and ways to challenge yourself to try something new. You'll be so glad you did when you reach the finish line and say, "That wasn't so bad. I think I'll try something else challenging!" Now get out there and get to training for the challenge. Happy Running!