The other day, I was lacing up my shoes to go for a run when I heard it.
"It" started as a soft drizzle. Within seconds, it became a loud, percussive downpour.
I sighed. Really?
Rain in Portland is no surprise this time of year, yet somehow, I always hold out hope that I can catch a dry window to squeeze in a few miles. Maybe it was the thought of being cold on the run, or the dread of dealing with wet clothes, but in that moment, I no longer wanted to get out the door.
As I was reviewing old podcasts earlier that week, I came across the Finding Mastery episode with David Goggins. Being a former Navy SEAL and ultra runner, Goggins thrives on discomfort.
In this podcast, Goggins gets into the details of the Navy SEAL's infamous Hell Week, a 130 hour test of strength, endurance, and mental fortitude required to become a SEAL. He says the first hour involves being submerged in cold water. Perhaps the most difficult part of that is knowing there's still 129 more hours. So how did Goggins get through it?
"To defeat hell, I had to become hell."
He continued.
"I had to become this [expletive] guy who went to this dark spot, that, instead of saying, "I hate the water" I loved the [expletive] water."
Back to my predicament. Was going for a five mile run in a downpour remotely comparable to Hell Week? Absolutely not.
But Goggins revealed a useful tip: match the energy.
To be at my athletic best in adverse weather, I've found it most effective to match my internal energy with what's going on externally. If rain or snow is bringing an uncommon intensity, so must I. My focus gets narrow. Every thought is committed to completing the task at hand.
Once I get going, the physical intensity soon matches the mental, and suddenly, I don't feel like I'm fighting the weather, but rather, fighting alongside the weather.
So when I recalled Goggins' interview, I jumped up and got out the door. There was no more hesitation.
There were miles to run.