You've Got 85 Days. Now What?
It's all about perspective.
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Note: Chelsey took over today’s newsletter, but I’m weighing in with my highlights of the week below.
This time of year makes me giddy. In Minnesota, the weather is turning crisp, the leaves are changing, and kids are back in school. October marks the last quarter of the year, the home stretch. Around this time, I often find myself looking back at the goals I set in January and reflecting on how I’ve spent the last nine months.
For some, this reflection results in a sense of pride and accomplishment. Maybe you’ve already achieved some of the goals you set for the year, or maybe you can clearly visualize how you are going to get there in this last season. For me, I got really intentional this year about focusing on gratitude every day. Some days this meant writing it down in the morning, others it was an internal reflection while I turned in for the night. Did I miss days? Absolutely. But this simple intention has really shifted my daily perspective for the better.
Of course, there’s also the possibility to feeling defeated. To feel as though you’re ready to throw in the towel for the last three months, hoping next year will be different. I’ve been in this place, too. This year, specifically looking at the words I wrote in January “I will qualify for the Boston Marathon.” After battling a medical issue in the early months of the year, I trained with everything I had to get to the start line of an April marathon outside of Chicago. Long story short, the race felt good until it didn’t, and at mile 18 my legs gave out and it took everything I had to finish. I fell short of my BQ goal.
If you are feeling similar defeat, I want to stop you right there. We are nine months into the year, but that also means that as of today, there are still 85 days of 2022. Over 2,000 hours worth of beginning, creating, and growing. Instead of thinking how little time is left, what if the next 85 days are the best days of the year? Fact is, I don’t need a fresh year or a new sheet of paper to start. I get to choose when and where to start fresh, and so do you.
Does that mean I am going to qualify for Boston in the next 85 days? Definitely not. But I have the power to use these next three months to get closer to my goal. know this: I don’t want to miss out on 85 days of going after my own potential.
You can choose to view today, October 7th, as ‘too late’ or you can choose to view today as the perfect ‘first day’ of the new you. I hope you choose the latter, because there’s a whole season left to grow.
Keep hurdling,
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
I’m Listening To: A Tribute to Hilaree Nelson from The Rich Roll Podcast
On Monday, September 26th, Hilaree Nelson — one of the world’s most accomplished ski-mountaineers and adventure athletes — tragically passed away while descending mount Manaslu in Nepal after summiting the 26,781-foot mountain with her partner Jim Morrison. She was 49.
In tribute to her extraordinary life, this episode is a re-release of Hilaree and Rich’s conversation from 2018, focusing on risk, fear, resilience, potential, and the allure of the outdoors.
I’m Watching: Alone Together, Blonde, and Elvis
I watched all three of these within the last week (travel, #FTW). Blonde — a Marilyn Monroe biopic — was bizarre to me, and had me googling all sorts of things to figure out what was historically accurate versus exaggerated. Elvis was good, and Alone Together, a Katie Holmes movie following the love story of two people who end up booking the same AirBnb during the pandemic, made me feel a little sentimental.
Gear I’m Loving: Under Armour Mid Sports Bra
Gotta give my go-to sports bra a shout out in this week’s newsletter, as I’ve now worn it in at least four marathons (not the same one, but the same style). It’s compressive, no frills, stays put, and has never, ever chafed me. Plus, it’s a pretty good price at $35.
Quote I’m Loving: “All that we are is a result of what we have thought.” — Buddha
Thanks to LMNT — an electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don't — for supporting Hurdle.
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Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a FREE LMNT sample pack with purchase. To claim this deal you must go to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle — no code necessary.
🎧 NEW EPISODE: 223. Taylor Townsend, Pro Tennis Player
Taylor Townsend was once asked to take time off from playing tennis competitively by the USTA to go "work on her health" (despite being the No. 1 junior tennis player in the world). Fast forward, today she's a new mom and recently played in the doubles final at the US Open. For episode 223, I'm talking to Taylor all about body acceptance and how she stands as a role model to women everywhere. We also chat about what it was like coming back to sport after pregnancy, the badass catsuit she dawned in her recent matches, and what she's looking forward to next.
🎧 NEW EPISODE: #HURDLEMOMENT: London Marathon Recap
I came. I ran. I conquered. I went into this race convinced I'd end up in the med tent, and finishing is something I'll forever be proud of. Not just because of the mental grit that it took, but because of the emotional and mental growth it exhibited. In this episode, I'm giving you the full rundown.
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Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next week.