Solving problems
solve problems every day . I want to share with you what I've learned from ultramarathon running.
The Lavaredo Ultra Trail is a mountain running race classified as an Ultra Trail: it's 120 km long and features approximately 6,000 meters of elevation gain. To give you an idea, it's three consecutive marathons, with a 2,000-story building in between, requiring you to climb and descend every stairway.
The first time I participated in the Lavaredo Ultra Trail, I had to withdraw around the 90th kilometer mark, mainly due to stomach problems that prevented me from eating and drinking as I should have. Several people, when they heard about my failed attempt, said to me, "Next time, sign up for a shorter race, so you're sure to make it to the finish!"
What I decided to do instead was sign up for the Lavaredo Ultra Trail again, train harder and better. So the following year I returned to Cortina, the starting point of this wonderful race, and finally reached the finish line at the end of a wonderful journey through the Dolomites.
This anecdote led me to reflect on how we can solve problems. When we face a difficulty, we can decide to act in two ways :
- Reduce the problem
- Becoming bigger than the problem ourselves and overcoming it
My approach to the Lavaredo Ultra Trail was the latter. I prepared more and better, I grew, I became "bigger than the difficulty" (in this case, the race), and finally I succeeded, crossing the finish line.
If I had listened to those who advised me to participate in a shorter race, I would have chosen the first option instead. I would have reduced the problem, I would not have grown, and I would have adapted to the difficulty level without improving.
So, when we need to solve problems, we can behave in 2 ways :
- Avoid the problem and choose a smaller one to increase your chances of overcoming it
- Commit, grow, improve, become bigger than the problem and finally overcome it.
Which path do you choose?
Troubleshooting: Watch the video
