The 2016 Summer Olympics have been the big talk the past week and I have to say I am inspired and a bit overwhelmed at times. I can’t help but wonder how all of these amazing athletes do it!?!?! When 7:00am rolls around each morning I always think about how tired I am. I think that it is not physically possible to get up, grab my shoes, clothes, etc. etc. I mean, I worked out yesterday! COME ON!!!! Not to mention, I have realized that whenever life tends to get in the way I feel like I go for a run and I am back to square one.

Okay- negativity behind me. We are less than one week away from THE BIG RACE!!! I say “WE” because even though we will find our own pace out on the trail this weekend, none of the race participants will feel alone out there. These are the types of races that demonstrate how great the running community really is. Encouragement will find me time and time again this coming Saturday, and all of the training will pay off.

This week is for tapering. I won’t be experiencing new challenges before race day- but rather maintaining what I have trained for this summer. It has been a different training year for me. I have felt that most of my training has been because I am signed up for the race- and so it has brought me to the “WHY?” of taking on the mountain in just a few days.

Sir Edmund Hillary was one of the first climbers to summit Mt. Everest in 1953. Something he said when recounting his experience is what has challenged me most recently. “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Now just wait…let that sink in. OURSELVES?!?! Yes. Ourselves.

I immediately think of training days on Pikes Peak. There are all levels of physical ability out on that trail. I see older people, young kids, runners, hikers, incline fanatics, some dogs, and occasionally someone like me who is right in the middle. I often wonder what brings people out on that trail? Of course there are many reasons, but more importantly it brings me to reflect on Sir Edmund’s profound statement. What am I out to conquer? Fear? Rejection? To Prove I Have What It Takes?

The answer to that question is all of those things. The mountain and more importantly The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is meaningful to all participants in so many different ways. The one thing we all have in common is the fact that we have something to prove…to ourselves.

So as we all prepare for the most anticipated weekend of our summer I wish all of my friends strength. More importantly I hope for a time to reflect on what will really be conquered on race day. Take it with you on the trail and when you cross the finish line leave it behind.

2016 is OURS and our GOLD MEDAL is waiting.