I share a valuable lesson I learned during my obstacle course race at Fenway Park at the end of the 2022 race season. The lesson is simple but profound: You can go faster by being around faster people. In this blog post, I'll explore how this principle applies not only to racing but to life in general.
Race Day 1: High Expectations Two weeks ago, on November 12th and 13th, I participated in the Spartan race at Fenway Park. This was a significant event for me as it marked the end of the season. The previous year, I had qualified for the Elite category by placing in the top five, and my goal for this year was to secure a podium finish in the age group I competed in. Rather than racing in the Elite category, I aimed to accumulate a couple more podium finishes before facing the best of the best.
I prepared meticulously for the first day, focusing on stretching, yoga, running, and strength training. My nutrition was on point, and I had even taken a de-load week to ensure I was in peak condition. During the first race, I found myself in fourth place but later learned that the guy in third received a penalty, bumping me up to third and securing my podium finish. This achievement fueled my determination for the next day's race.
Race Day 2: Unexpected Challenges On the second day, I arrived at the race venue, hoping to be in the first wave of runners. Unfortunately, all 15 spots were already taken, and I was placed in the second wave, which meant I would be running with slower participants. At first, this frustrated me as I knew I would have to navigate through more people during the race, particularly at the obstacles, which could potentially slow me down.
However, I took off at a blistering pace, fully aware that I might burn out quickly. As I ascended the stairs to the top of Fenway Park, I realized I might have started too fast. I was concerned about fatigue setting in. But to my surprise, I maintained the pace and found myself running alone, with only two runners from the wave behind me eventually passing me. I must have passed around 20 participants during the race, giving me a significant mental boost.
The Power of Your Surroundings: Physically, it seemed impossible that I would perform better on the second day, given my lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and physical exhaustion from the previous day's race. However, my experience taught me a valuable lesson: your surroundings and the people you're with can greatly influence your performance.
In the race, I set my own pace on the second day, running alone and achieving a time 40 seconds faster than the day before. This experience underscored the idea that being around faster people can make you go faster. The same principle applies outside of racing and in life in general. The people you surround yourself with have a significant impact on your speed and progress.
My race experience reinforced the age-old saying that you are the result of the five people you spend the most time with. If you want to go fast, sometimes you have to go alone and surround yourself with individuals who push you to reach your full potential. The lesson is clear: you can go faster by being around faster people, and conversely, being around slower individuals can hold you back. This principle will not only help me in my future races but also in the general direction of my life. Remember to choose your companions wisely, as they can inspire you to set the pace higher and achieve greater success in your life.
Please consider sharing with your friends
