I always hope it’s hot. I hope it’s hard. I hope I struggle.

The opportunity to test my mind and body is something I relish, and one of the reasons that I love the mountains. For me, nothing is as awesome as the self-reflection that comes through struggling with my own limitations and figuring out if they are real or something I created for myself. I look for opportunities to test myself. If I am afraid that I can’t do it and I can train for it, I’m in.

The benefit at the end of a long struggle (in anything) is realizing that endurance and ability come in many forms.

The mind is often the weakest muscle and the one to give up first.

My mind might play the loop: “You are miserably hot. Your legs are burning. You are dripping sweat. The air in your lungs feels like fire….”. All these things may be true. But the opportunity to reframe that loop into, “I am killing this trail run. I am lucky to be out here. My body is determined and capable. And this is a beautiful day and a beautiful opportunity”. That’s enough to change the whole experience.

And the mountains are always there to teach you that the struggles of the body are most often a test of the mind.

Often, we prize the concept of winning so very much. But the victory of perseverance is one that everyone, at every level, has the opportunity to relish and experience. And it’s one of the sweetest victories of them all. Improving your self-awareness and inner strength is the ultimate win.