I’m an average person and I do average things. This mostly irritates the crap out of me because I feel like I’m meant to do great things in life and struggle to dig my way out of the average hole I’m in. It’s a battle to do epic things when you’re tethered to a job, house, pets, family, etc. What is epic anyways? It’s different for all of us. Maybe a half marathon is epic. Maybe a 200 lb deadlift is epic. Is finishing first in a triathlon any more epic than finishing at all if it’s your first time and you used to be sedentary and overweight? No. It’s personal and epic adventures are whatever you want them to be.
If I listed some of the things I’ve done in life, some might be epic to someone else and why would I judge how they see my accomplishments. I can categorize them however I want but maybe I need to loosen my white knuckle grip on life and just chill out. I can cheer on the first time 5K racers just as much and maybe more than the 100 mile ultra runners because that first 5K can be epic for so many new runners.
Share your amazing fitness adventures with us. What have you done that shocks the heck out of you or your family or your friends? My intent is to showcase the cool stuff everyone does and to change the way people see the adventures they have. You’re doing incredible things and you may not know it.
I got a first place medal in my age group in a 5k this weekend that I ran with my eight year old daughter for her first race. I’ve never come in first place in any sports event I’ve ever participated in. Never. Ever. Period. Our time? 46 minutes. I was the only male runner aged 40-49. Proof that sometimes just showing up is epic, especially for those unaccustomed to being considered epic.
Showing up is the biggest key to success at anything. You never know what will happen and simply being there and trying is huge! Congratulations on that 1st place AG win and for your daughter being there with you!
Thanks for this Brenda. It’s important to remember this when people around you are doing things that make your accomplishments seem tiny. I finished a 50k this spring after an awful winter of injuries. I had an emotional moment with myself in my car right after because to me, I accomplished something big after crawling out of a difficult hole. From the outside, it didn’t look too epic, since I walked a majority of it and finished 40 minutes slower than my 50k last summer. But it was a great sense of accomplishment to me knowing that I can put in a ton of work to get through a tough situation.
Everyone’s Everest is different.
I know exactly what you mean, Tim. I’m so happy you finished that 50K because we both had rough winters to overcome.
I ran 100 miles with 13000+ meters combined elevation around the Kathmandu Valley Rim in Nepal. I was very slow compared to other people who have done it, but I don’t care – I completed it in 52 hours over a weekend and then was back in the classroom on Monday.
Congratulations! I think that’s just an incredible accomplishment and the time it took is irrelevant. Way to go!
I’m still amazed that I finished my first 50K in the allotted 8 hour time cap. Where several thought it was very daunting (including myself) but I did it! I did the whole thing! And was still running after mile 30.
There are no words to fully express how thrilled I was to see you finished that race. What an incredible accomplishment. You’re amazing!