I discovered Adventure Racing last year. One of the biggest challenges has been finding someone to race with. Adventure racing (AR) is usually run with a team of 2-4 people.

I run the Sports division which is a 3-hour race. One hour on the bike, one hour in a canoe, and 1 hour trekking. Navigation is with map and compass, and the objective is to finish each leg in 1 hour, while collecting between 5-8 control points for each discipline.

I’ve run a few races alone and 2 races with team members. There is a world of difference in the two. The team dynamics of working together toward a common goal make the race so much more fun.

Each team member brings strengths and weaknesses to the game. Once you figure out and maximize them, you have a cohesive unit that races well together.

On my third AR, I was in a state park I’d never been to. I’m looking over the map, having a real hard time getting my bearings, and not feeling too confident about the day. As I sit and contemplate my strategy, a team of 4 guys set up their tent and equipment beside me.

We got to talking, and I asked them if they would mind if I tagged along because I could tell I was going to have a hard time with navigation. They said sure, we drew marbles, and the first discipline was the bike.

So the race gun goes off, and we take off down the trail. At first I’m keeping up fine. But then they get into a rhythm and start pulling away from me. I increase speed to keep up….but they keep pulling ahead. They shout words of encouragement, so I kick it up another notch.

However, I soon realize that I’m going at top speed, I can’t keep up with them, and I still have a whole hour to race. Two things became readily apparent. I hadn’t trained hard enough….and I simply wasn’t at their same level of fitness and endurance. No matter how hard I pushed, I would go into the red zone long before them.

I signalled for them to keep going, telling myself I’d catch up. Oh yeah….right! who was I kidding!! I made 3 of 5 control points and had to turn back otherwise I would run over time.

I met up with them as I pulled out of the trail, and we headed back to the start/finish transition area to pick up the next punch card. They of course, found all 5 control points on their bikes.

We jump in the canoes and we’re off. Canoeing is my strength and I have a good power stroke, so I’m in my element. It was an AWESOME canoe run, the water was crystal clear, the scenery was surreal, and we hit all the control points.

When it came to the final trekking leg, I didn’t want to slow them down, so I told them I would go it alone. I only got 2 of 5 control points but made it back and finished the race in under 3 hours.

I was happy with my race since my goal was to finish in time, rather than collect all the control points and go over the 3-hour time limit. So I accomplished what I’d set out to do! But as I’m driving home, going over the race in my head…it hit me.

The way I ran this race is a metaphor for how I want to approach my life.

Are you thinking of changing careers, ending a bad relationship, starting a whole new life, ending a marriage that’s run it’s course, or starting your own business? Guess what…..ultimately you have to do it on your own terms, in you own way, and in your own good time.

You can’t wait for someone to do it for you. You can’t try to do it according to what friends or family advise. You can’t do it the way someone else did it, because your circumstances are different.

So next time you are faced with a challenge and feel the pressure to do something that is simply not you….STOP. Take a deep breath, think it through and…RUN YOUR OWN RACE.

Did this rock your world? Was it helpful? Did it resonate with you in some way? See those sexy social media buttons below? Go ahead and share this with friends, family, complete strangers….spread the good karma and it will come back to you.