Last week my husband competed in an event called the Badwater Ultra Marathon, which was a goal he sought after for five years.  Badwater is known as the toughest footrace on the planet, totaling 135 miles, lasting up to 60 hours, starting 285 ft below sea level in Death Valley and finishing at 8,371 ft at Whitney Portal, a total of 17,700 feet of elevation change. The race has been around since the late 1970’s.  Up to 90 athletes are invited to participate each year.  I know it sounds crazy, but yes, there are copious amounts of people clamoring to pay to run well over one hundred miles through the desert.  This year my husband was one of the lucky ones to experience this epic adventure.  Temperatures surpassed 120 degrees; there were 40 mph winds that were so hot it felt like a giant outdoor heater, and the radiating heat off the pavement measured around 150 degrees.  No words could really describe the intensity of these conditions; it was truly an otherworldly experience.

80 runners from around the world toed this years’ starting line, 73 finished, my husband placed 16^th overall and absolutely rocked it his rookie year.  Each runner can have up to two crew vehicles and 6 people to assist them along the way.  Crew teams leap frog along with the runner all day (and night), giving them fuel, water, ice, clothing changes, pacing help, sunscreen, mental support and anything else needed.

Normally I would be crewing, pacing or running the race myself.  But this time I was just merely a cheerleader.  There were a few reasons why: I had never been to Badwater and was therefore rather inexperienced with what was needed in particular, I am not all that great in the heat, and in the end we didn’t want my husband to be out running a race and worrying if I was okay.  So, he assembled a super support team to ensure his success, which put my mind at ease.  I knew he would finish.

I must admit there were definitely moments where I felt left out and wondering why I was there.  However, I very quickly realized that no matter what you are doing, you are either supporting your loved ones in achieving their goals or you are having quite the opposite effect.  When you stop to analyze your thoughts and actions it’s easy to choose the path that will help further those around you in reaching their finish lines.  During Badwater I drove between checkpoints cheering everyone on, channeling good energy, telling my husband I loved him, helping runners (and crew) get past any hard moments and doing whatever I could to contribute to the race as a whole.  In the end I was surprised how much fun I had, how many amazing people I met, how absolutely beautiful the desert and Mt. Whitney are and that I was able to make a difference even though I wasn’t a part of the race. I guess sometimes being off the court is actually being on the court, just in a different way.  I also absorbed priceless tips for future trips to this race to help crew, cheer or maybe even run it.

What I took away from this experience is how crucial a strong support network is to help launch you toward your goals, whether they are weight loss, career related or crossing a finish line at a race.  Remember, you are not alone in the journey.  And the best way to get inspired is reach out and help your loved ones go after their dreams.  Look at what you can contribute, whether it’s telling someone you believe in them, scheduling early morning workouts or helping with healthier food choices.

Whatever you’ve been putting off, stop putting it off, go out there and get it!
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Check out this podcast interview post Badwater too!

Yours in Health,

Kardio Kate

Posted in Main at July 22nd, 2010 by Kardio Kate
Tags: reaching goals, weight loss advice
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