From Ordinary to Podium: How Consistency Turns Effort into Achievement

Most people who know Sonja and me know that we love martial arts, camping, hiking, and being on the river. Similar to having a job that aligns with your passion, we enjoy combining various outdoor activities and competing in them.

Over the first four months of this year, we’ve spent a lot of time overlapping goals off the mats through multiple peaks, with challenges and events across different disciplines. The calendar has literally been filled with paddling on the river and attending as many canoe races as we can, followed by trading our paddles for rucksacks and hitting some miles. Walking with a weighted backpack, or rucking, can be a wonderful activity in which you carry a pack for distance or time. Some of our rucking has been virtual, solo, in groups, and, of course, in competitive challenges.

We typically start planning our goals months in advance, allowing time to create tailored action steps for each event. With strong preparation, one event often helps ready us for the next. For example, canoe season begins with four-week sprints, followed by a 60-mile ultramarathon, then five more races leading up to the World’s Toughest Canoe Race, the Texas Water Safari.

Rucking this year has been very much the same format, taking one challenge or event and building on the next. Last weekend was the pinnacle goal of the season for us in long-range, ultra-rucking. We stacked preparation miles, fun rucks, challenges, and competitions, all with two goals in mind. Last year, we completed GoRuck’s 50 Mile Challenge in around 18 and a half hours. This year, we wanted to cut a few hours and finish on the podium.

The GoRuck City Rucks offer something for everyone. Pick your distance, register, show up, and get after it. You can ruck for fun or for time as you search for various waypoints, creating memories in your photo reel! This year’s 50-miler wasn’t going to disappoint anyone. Our buy-in was the 10-mile loop around Townlake. After we completed the loop and returned to our starting point, we were instructed to check back in and then start our second leg, which included roughly 18 waypoints to locate and check in via a QR Code and a selfie photo. We navigated as far south as 290, headed north to downtown, traversed Mount Bonnell, be-lined it north to near the soccer stadium, headed south on Burnet Road, east to Mueller, then back southeast and eventually downtown, before making our way back to the starting point.

We chewed up over 51.5 miles in 15 hours and 57 minutes, being the second team to cross the finish line, and taking first place in our category! It was a massive push early on that led to a lot of stress, keeping us on edge as other teams were on our heels, trying to catch up. I couldn’t think of anyone better to complete this amazing goal with than Sonja. We took turns keeping each other motivated and focused through the late evening and early morning hours, battling navigation issues, rain, and blisters as we hoofed it to each waypoint, only to find our support crew ready to outfit us with calories, electrolytes, and hydration. Huge thank-you to our youngest daughter, Tori, and our good friend John for all their efforts in making sure we had everything we needed to continue on. Whether it was keeping our spirits up, ensuring we stayed healthy, or providing details about other teams, they were key to our overall success.

This win is a lighthouse beacon for us all. It shows you can start for fun, improve your health, and, if you wish, excel at even the hardest events. Anyone can do it. As I tell our martial arts students, the only difference between them and a competitor is the choice to step in. If you want it, it’s there to take. Will it come instantly? Probably not. I’ve always considered myself average—never the best, but never complacent. I focus on preparation, discipline, and tenacity. These get the job done, whatever your goal, if you stay the course. Need assistance with your fitness, health, self-defense, or martial arts goals?  Let us help. Reach out, and let’s begin your path together. Achieving your goals is easier with a team, and we’re here to help you shine!

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Guro Larry, Sonja, Lauren & Tori St. Clair
Martial Way Legacy
"A Compass to the Preservation of Bruce Lee’s Philosophy and Legacy"
http://www.martialwaylegacy.com
512-821-3637