I almost didn’t make it to the Berlin start line…
Because of a chair.
Four weeks ago I was lining up the two biggest training weeks before Berlin Marathon. Then I sat down in a chair and stood up crooked.
A shock of heat through my lower back, a tilt to the right I couldn’t correct. Every step hurt.
Candice saw me within 24 hours. Her usual optimism had a shadow. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to run Berlin. This looks like a compressed disc.”
Leadership parallels showed up fast. I live in hard realities with our businesses and our clients, but when it’s your body, the emotions are louder.
My dad’s lesson returned, the one that’s saved me a hundred times: “Matt you have to see the world as it is, not as you wish it to be.”
My 24-hour rule held: after wins or setbacks, feel it fully for a day, then audit it.
Failure is a wonderful teacher. I have Aspirations of living a long and healthy life.
Healthspan is largely dictated by
1. VO2Max
2. Grip Strength
3. Mental wellness
Marathon Training gives me 2 of the 3 – The building blocks for a marathon help me increase my VO2Max – Mine is 59 right now. It has also brought me mental clarity – my runs allow me time to reflect and wrestle with my own thoughts. I feel strong mentally.
But what I have never meaningfully done – Strength Training.
I now have to cross the knowing-doing bridge.
And that aggravated disc was another advanced warning. “Matt you’re not taking strength training seriously. You cannot use your shoulder fracture/dislocation as an excuse anymore.”
My immediate penance: bird dogs, sloppy push-ups, and gingerly walks
That was my “training” for two weeks.
Last Saturday, I ran 10 miles.
The principle we use in EO Atlantic Canada is to share our experiences so that fellow entrepreneurs can take what they want from the story.
Here are my lessons:
1. See the world as it is. Sit with it. Learn the Lesson. Move forward.
2. Back to Basics – I’m only as strong as the weakest part. I’m reminded here of Shane Parish who said “Extraordinary is nothing more than doing the ordinary more than most.”
3. Community – The quality of our lives comes down to the quality of our relationships. And ever since Wayne Crawley shared his views on relationships, I’ve never looked at my communities the same.
Laura Lundquist – Your guidance and experience share helped my own treatment plan.
Anthony – I love what we’re building at Evolve. Thank you for taking time out of your Sunday. It gave me the confidence to run again.
Candice Bannister– You got me on the path to recovery. On a personal level, the strength of our extended family is built on how we show up for each other. Thank you!
Emily Dugas – Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to run these marathons. I’m a better leader, partner, and dad when I run. Your support means everything.
Tomorrow morning there are no delusions of a PB. I’m just grateful to run in my second Major. And I’m grateful for the lessons of this season.
