The Elusive, yet Euphoric, Rewards of Endurance

I am a runner and triathlete.

To date, I have completed an Ironman 70.3 triathlon, 13 marathons, and countless other distance and middle distance races on roads, trails, and tracks.

Why do I run, bike, and swim? On their face, all three activities can appear dull, monotonous, and challenging? And there are many people who would agree with all three of those sentiments. And despite my love and appreciation of all three activities, I understand the source of the naysayers' groans. After all, running, biking, and swimming can all be both monotonous and challenging activities—especially when your aim is to cover a long distance.

Yet, despite any and all difficulties involved, I continue to get back into my shoes, onto my bike, and in the pool, lake, or ocean time-after-time-after-time. 

Why? 

The answer to this question lies in the countless experiences I have had that demonstrate the importance of endurance and the joy that comes from effortfully enduring something that is difficult. In other words, the Runner, Biker, or Swimmer's "High" is a real phenomenon.

And while such euphoria can be elusive, the elation is real.

Himalayan Mountain Range

But it goes well beyond the natural "High" that comes from hurtling along a track or treadmill, spinning along a highway or byway, or coursing through a pool or lake at personally satisfying speeds. It also has to do with the immense natural rewards inherent in overcoming myself as I exercise endurance.

In the words of the famous New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary—the first person to ever set foot atop the world's highest mountaintop, Mount Everest—It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.  

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."

— Sir Edmund Hillary 

A Natural Reward is something positive a self-action leader obtains as a by-product of engaging in a certain activity. Self-action leaders wisely arrange and plan their work and lives in ways that maximize their leverage over naturally rewarding activities.

Over time, a self-action leader comes to discover that one of the greatest natural rewards of all is the quiet, inner feeling of accomplishment that can only come in ONE way—by enduring to the end of a given task, goal, or mission. And the more difficult the process, the more rewarding its completion. 

Pikes Peak as viewed from the desert-plains at its base

A few years ago, I signed up for a half-marathon race to the top of Pikes Peak in Central Colorado. I had run several half marathons before entering the Pikes Peak Ascent. But scaling a mountain towering 14,115 feet above sea level was no ordinary half-marathon. 

The race begins at an elevation of just 6,315 feet—just west of the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over the course of the 13.3 mile course, runners gain an elevation of 7,800 feet. The first eight or nine miles are challenging, but doable—even at a running or jogging pace. The last four of five miles—and particularly the last mile—are another story! Between the steep grades and rarer air at the top of the mountain, it took me a lengthy 30 minutes to complete the final mile, meaning that my pace amounted to that of a slow walk! In all, it took me four hours and eight minutes to run those 13.3 miles—more than twice as long as my average half-marathon time on a paved course. 

But that was the price required to summit that mighty mountain; and if I wanted the full scale of satisfaction (natural rewards) of making it to the top, I had no other choice but to faithfully endure.

As you can imagine, it was worth it.

The view from the top was stunning, and the sense of accomplishment was significant. After arriving at the summit, I learned that the view from the top of Pikes Peak was the same vista that inspired the American poet, Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929), to write the words to the famous song: America the Beautiful.

"O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!"

In Bates' own words:

"One day ... I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. ... I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there...."

Interesting, don't you think, that the inspiration of Bates' pen did not arrive until after she had made it to the top of the mountain?

Life is often just like that. It holds out its greatest joys, rewards, satisfactions, and inspirations until the end of a given journey—or at very least until well into it. As such, you cheat yourself out of great riches and plenty if you give up short of a worthy goal. Sadder still, you will never really know what you are missing if you decide to settle for less along the pathways of your life's journeys.  

What is something worthwhile in your life that you are tempted to give up on, but know deep down in your heart and soul that you would be selling yourself short if you prematurely terminated your journey? 

What might you do beginning TODAY to refocus your vision, energy, and efforts on enduring to the end? Additionally, what kinds of positive cues might you employ to continually remind yourself of the natural rewards that await you at the Mountain Top?

Click HERE to learn more about "Positive Cues."  

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