A couple of years ago I was inspired by the book, The Comfort Crisis, and decided to sign myself up for some uncomfortable endeavors. One being the legendary Alley Loop Nordic Marathon. This wonderful race encompasses the best of what Crested Butte is: tucked in the elk mountains at 9,000′ of elevation, the town & it’s community is wonderfully quaint & oh so quirky.

I’m not a nordic racer by trade. Let’s just say I attempt to have those skinny little skis move faster than a walking pace, though at times, it’s exciting to be moving at a walking pace. This specific race brings all sorts of nordic ski lovers. From full-spandex serious racers chasing a Birkie ticket to those waddling the 1k in a toad costume, everyone’s in it for the joy of it. The alleys are where the locals hand out shots of tequila, strips of bacon, PBRs and candy for the kiddos. It’s a race for everyone!

Signing up for a 42k skate ski race was a foreign concept to me. I’d have better luck roping a cow, wrestling a hog, racing a tractor or chasing down a chicken.

Lets be honest, I thought their cat barn was a building for kitties!

Naturally one looking for uncomfortable things enters into this here race after being convinced by a friend who was also interested.

Stay with me here, this is NOT a marketing ploy for Crested Butte or the Alley Loop. This is about YOU and tomorrow and the tomorrows after that.

Race weekend came and we stayed with some kind locals. They talked about their kids, mid-twenties, out in the world, who had finally figured out that when they signed themselves up for things, often, they were happier. My ears danced in delight, I doubled down. “Figuring it out.” Do say more!! Off my chair, full squat mode. “Yeah,” they said, “when they sign themselves up for things: classes, races, doesn’t matter what, they’re in it. They’re training for life.”

Time stopped. WHAT! Training for life? This was profound. Spinning in these words I did my best to stay cool.

Committing to something..anything..keeps us focused and on our path. Once we complete the thing, hit repeat on commit and do something new. It’s not about the grade or result. It’s about who we become along the way. Committed to the practice of investing in ourselves. When you sign yourself up for things, you create a process of becoming.

Untethered, uncommitted we blow around. If you can approach this in a non-transactional way (cards aren’t all in on the results) and let it be just a thing, the thing you’re committed to this quarter, you may gain the most value. Or if it has a purpose, let it be a transformational one. You don’t end at the end of a semester, or when the book is finished, or the race is complete. You are what you learn along the way and that is what makes you stronger, wiser, kinder every day. It’s not zero sum results. It’s about how you incorporate what you learn into who you are and what you do for the world. How you live and give through your purpose.

I think about these words oh so often. Train for life. Commit to yourself.

Wondering today what you’re doing to learn, grow, and challenge your yesterday’s thinking to expand tomorrow.
Wondering what you’re doing to train for life?