Feeling Overwhelmed

The first time I ran an ultramarathon I realized something significant. When you start to feel overwhelmed, you’re done. As soon as you start thinking about how many miles down or how much time you have left out there, the feeling of overwhelm consumes you. You’re in over your head and you know it. How can I possible go that much longer? How can I finish this? 

You may be thinking, I have no desire to run an ultramarathon so why do I care? Well, the funny thing is that during that same ultramarathon, I realized it was the same feeling I felt the first time I ran a 5k race. I ran a little bit every summer for hockey conditioning, but we did short bursts and sprints, we never ran for distance. On Thanksgiving in 2011 I ran my first 5k and I remember feeling really good, until I ran past the 1 mile marker sign. 

I was crushed. Two more miles! How is that possible? I can’t keep this up for two more miles! The feeling of overwhelm sat with me the rest of the race. It wasn’t until that first 50k in 2017 that I realized I was having the same feeling with 10 miles to go. The distance doesn’t matter. Whether its 10 miles or 1 mile, the feeling of overwhelm handcuffs you.

Whatever your goals are, you need to avoid getting overwhelmed. If the scope of the goal is big and lofty, break it into smaller pieces. Create manageable bites, solid day in and day out processes that make the undertaking manageable. As soon as your thoughts wander on how much longer it will take, or how much further you need to go, you’ll be ditching your goal to pick something safer. 

Justin Miner

@justinminergain