They say every ultra has a story. The story of Portland Ultra 7 was one of discomfort, doubt, and perseverance—a perfect case study for understanding the power of mindset coaching principles in real life.

2/11/24 AKA The day from hell

It started like so many others. Vegetarian pizza the night before, early to bed by 9:30. But things went sideways fast. At 3 a.m., I woke up, my mind racing with questions:

• “Have I done enough?”

• “Will I finish?”

• “Will my Achilles snap?”

By 5 a.m., I was up and getting ready, only to dry retch. Nerves, I told myself. On the bus to the start line, nausea hit again. The coastal roads didn’t help, but I tried to push through.

By the 7 km mark, I knew something was off. Dry retching, stomach cramps, and waves of nausea followed me for the next 43 km. At the 50 km mark, with 10 km to go, I was doubled over in pain, barely walking.

Quitting seemed logical—my body was screaming for it. But my mindset wouldn’t let me. I knew the discomfort wasn’t forever, and I kept telling myself:

• “The hard stuff is why I’m here.”

• “This moment will pass.”

• “Even when I think I’m done, there’s more inside me.”

And eventually, I crossed the finish line.

Lessons from the trail: being comfortable with discomfort

Mindset coaching teaches us to reframe challenges. Instead of resisting discomfort, we learn to embrace it as part of the journey. In Ultra 7, the pain didn’t magically disappear. But by shifting my focus, I stopped fixating on the problem and began riding the waves of good and bad moments.

• When I felt bad, I used distraction: telling myself stories, thinking of my family, or laughing at a podcast.

• When I felt good, I pushed hard, knowing those moments wouldn’t last forever.

This balance—accepting discomfort and making the most of better moments—is a cornerstone of mental resilience.

Moving past negative thoughts

The hardest part wasn’t the nausea or the cramps. It was the gap between my expectations and reality. I’d trained for months, visualising a strong performance. But on race day, my body had other plans.

It’s easy to label these moments as failures. But mindset coaching helps us move past those thoughts by asking better questions:

• What can I learn from this?

• How will this experience shape my next challenge?

• How can I honour my efforts instead of dwelling on what went wrong?

By reframing setbacks, we gain clarity and avoid the trap of giving up too soon.

The power of commitment to habits

Let me be honest: my preparation for Ultra 7 was far from perfect. Between an Achilles injury and limited training time, I hadn’t run more than 35 km in a session for 12 months. Race day required me to double that.

But here’s the thing: my commitment to habits saved me. Over years of training, I’d built the mental and physical foundation that carried me through.

Mindset coaching often focuses on habits because they are the building blocks of resilience. The small, consistent actions you take every day—whether in fitness, work, or relationships—create the scaffolding for extraordinary results.

Even when circumstances aren’t ideal, your habits can sustain you.

Know your why: the key to unlocking your best self

So, how do you keep going when everything tells you to stop? It starts with knowing your why.

For me, my why wasn’t just finishing Ultra 7—it was proving to myself that I don’t quit when things get hard. It was about honouring the discipline I’ve built over years and setting an example for my family and clients.

If you’re reading this and struggling with fear or self-doubt, ask yourself:

• Why is failure not an option for me?

• Why must I change?

• Why do I want this goal so much?

• Why will I refuse to let excuses hold me back?

Your why gives you clarity and emotional fuel. It transforms fear into focus and discomfort into determination.

Face your fear: discomfort is temporary, regret lasts forever

Fear often blocks us from becoming our best selves. But here’s the truth: your fear is temporary, and the sooner you face it, the less power it has.

The pain of regret, however, can last a lifetime. Imagine quitting today and wondering, "What if I’d kept going?"

When you walk toward discomfort and embrace the challenges in front of you, you rewrite your story. You prove to yourself that even in the face of adversity, you can achieve something extraordinary.

Final thoughts: mindset is everything

The Portland Ultra 7 was a test of my limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It wasn’t the race I’d envisioned, but it was the one I needed.

Through it all, I learned that:

• Discomfort is part of growth.

• Negative thoughts don’t define reality.

• Habits build resilience.

Most importantly, I learned that with the right mindset, we are capable of so much more than we believe.

BOOK YOUR 30MIN FREE ZOOM CALL

Ready to embrace discomfort, move past limiting beliefs, and commit to habits that fuel your growth? Book a free 30min exploratory call with me today to start transforming your mindset and achieving the extraordinary.