Adversity: A Disguised Opportunity for Growth

Character is often forged in the hard places - the hills and valleys that are rarely glamorous or seen by others. The past few years have been character-building seasons, from reaching new heights of personal bests and accomplishments to experiencing new depths of injuries and disappointments. Yet success cannot be merely measured by fastest running times or longest distances traversed. Success is more deeply experienced when character is forged in the crucible of adversity and "dark nights of the soul" wrestling matches. During Run Free's Altitude Camp, Olympian marathoner Ryan Hall aptly noted: "Every adversity is a disguised opportunity." A disguised opportunity to know one does not have to face trials alone. A disguised opportunity to rethink what success means. A disguised opportunity to embrace failure as a gift to come back stronger and more resilient. Trials are gifts to seize the moment, gain new ground, and experience new breakthroughs.

The Gift of Unexpected Encouragement

In June 2022, capping off a year-long ankle sprain recovery, I had the opportunity to attend Run Free's Altitude Camp in Crested Butte, CO. While finally returning to running, I still searched for answers to the persistent obstacles, such as the "mental" game hurdles of reliving my ankle sprain fall every time I ran on trails. One of the training runs included track speed workouts on the highest collegiate football field in the world (as of 1948). My first time returning to the track in 1.5 years left me gasping for air as if bricks weighed down on my diaphragm. Who were these people with different lungs? The other runners looked like graceful gazelles spinning around the track; I looked like a wobbly top about to pass out from asphyxiation. Then suddenly, Jasmine, a charismatic, young runner, offered to run the workout with me even though she clearly could run much faster - and with no shoes on (just... wow). She laced up her running shoes and joined me for many laps around the track. Her joyful, encouraging words helped me survive each successive, winded speed lap around the track.

Encouraged by Jasmine on my first time back on a track in 1.5 years

(PC: Chad Hall)

While I didn't immediately find answers to my questions of how to overcome running ankle injury PTSD, I did eventually find strategies to help regain my confidence and come to peace with the trails. I connected with Coach Rachel, a trail runner at camp who had to overcome injuries and mental hurdles, and she took time to share many words of wisdom and inspiration throughout the following year. That meant volumes to me. While I was learning a tremendous amount from my current coach at the time, I needed a more holistic approach to running that could help with the mental cues and mobility strengthening needed to help overcome the fear of falling on a reinjured ankle. Where the prior year I had to defer due to injury, only a month after camp, I was able to successfully complete one of the hardest trail half marathons in the U.S. and injury free! A couple months later, instead of avoiding the trail where I fell, I was able to revisit that place and have my ankle be at peace.

The Gift of Seasons

Seasons are gifts that bring new perspectives and new strategies. I sometimes find myself comparing me to my one-year ago self and having not-so-helpful self-talk, such as: Why am I dealing with muscle cramps that I didn't have a year ago? How is it that I could run Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon last year but could not even survive 30 minutes on a flat trail? I sometimes think of the famous saying, "This too shall pass", only to wittily respond, "Well, it's not passing fast enough!" Injury recovery is often harder than training itself because it often involves going backward before going forward. But such times are opportunities to work on muscle imbalances and building a solid foundation for coming back stronger. Challenging weather seasons, such as hot summers, can also be a particular challenge to even keep motivated. Summer, however, is a great time to think and train differently - a time to build that mental fortitude and training resilience and to change training patterns up a bit, such as running based on effort instead of stressing out on time or trying new trails. Seasons are not forever, so embrace the uniqueness of them!

The Gift of Successful Failures

Last year's training season were the gifts of successful failures - and how setbacks were a setup for something greater. After a series of personal best (PBs) running times, I ended up having several months of hoping for PBs and getting so close, yet so far from attaining them. The running season started off with training to run up Humphreys Peak with a PB time, only to have those hopes dashed by a snapped trail running pole and a stressed-out ankle. While rehab and more well-rounded, running-focused running training program was helping, it was just taking a while for running times to show the difference. This past January, my 10K split in a half marathon race was a huge 10K PB but could not be recorded as such because it was a half marathon race. Finally, in February, things were looking up for a PB with promising weather and my parents cheering on. However, those hopes slipped by after having painful leg cramps for the last 7 miles. Each stride making me want to yelp in pain. My sister, seeing my agony the near the finish line, yelled, "You've got this!!!" and ran with me to the finish line, which was priceless! While I am still processing the marathon, things are beginning to turn around on times, with even a huge trail PB just the other weekend! I'm excited to see how the best is yet to come!

Humphreys Peak ankle aftermath

The snapped running pole

My sister yelling, "You've got this!!!" and "Come on! Almost there!!!"

(PC: Wayne Wong)

I've been able to enjoy running and exploring new heights and depths in a deeper way. While adversity is often not fun and is rarely enjoyable, coming out stronger is one of the most encouraging rewards to keep pressing on. Here's to reaching new heights, learning more in the valleys, and enjoys going to new places of growth where you may have not ventured before. The best is yet to come!