Thank you, Striders. The response to last week's episode really moved me. The shoutouts and questions that came in reminded me of why these conversations matter so much. Last week we talked about the things in life we are constantly training for, and I used the example of my dogs, because raising them into their best selves has always been an ongoing process of patience and intention.

The other example I shared was my nephew Logan, who is competing in an Ironman this weekend. Watching him prepare for this has been something else entirely. An Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, then a full marathon on top of that. He will likely be out there for twelve hours or more. He did not arrive at this start line overnight. He got there through small, steady, intentional steps, building his mileage, learning how to transition between each leg of the race, figuring out how to fuel his body, his mind, and his heart along the way.

The training was never just physical. It was about showing up consistently, managing setbacks, honoring short and long term goals, and knowing what he needed in order to keep going when things got hard. Your excitement about last week's episode inspired me to take this idea even further. So many of us are doing something similar every single day, just without the race bib. On today's Wise Walk, we are slowing down to ask ourselves what our Ironman-like event really is, and what we are doing to prepare our body, mind, and heart to go the full distance.

• What is your Ironman-like event that you have your sights set on, and how are you mentally preparing to take small steps through the planning, the wins, the setbacks, and the short-, medium-, and long-term goals?
• How are you managing your time and stress as you prepare for this event, knowing that stress is part of taking on something meaningful?
• How are you fueling your body, your heart, and your mind so you can stay resilient and keep moving forward when challenges arise?
• As you reflect on this event, how are you rallying support, what are you asking for, who are you asking, and are you clearly expressing why this matters to you?
• Where can you plan and prepare with focus, discipline, and commitment so you are set up for success, and where might you need to make sacrifices?
• What needs to come off your plate right now, and what are you trying to juggle that may be draining your energy before, during, or after this event?
• How are you planning to recover so you can feel aligned and supported once the event is complete?
• How can you pace yourself with everything you have going on so you finish strong and set yourself up to take on what comes next?

I would love to hear what you're preparing for and how you're fueling yourself through it, before, during, and after. Reach out, I'm cheering you on.

Don't forget to rally your support so you can set yourself up for success. I'll see you next Thursday for another Wise Walk, and until then, please remember to prioritize fun as you read the signs, direct your path, and get your Stride on.

In this episode:

• [04:29] One of the Ironman type events I'm taking on is moving. I found a home. I am mentally, emotionally, physically preparing myself for the big moving event.
• [05:50] I also want to prepare for the heaviness of unpacking. My sister Heather is going to be there for me. One of the things we can do when training for an Ironman event is rally support.
• [07:49] One of my loved ones, who will be cheering Logan on, has diabetes. She has been trying to master keeping her blood sugar in check while traveling. She's taking on her own major Ironman challenge.
• [09:42] We have Ironman-like events in our lives everyday, because it is overcoming hardship.
• [11:27] I need to prepare for my move by keeping myself mentally and physically strong. Core strength is critical.
• [12:56] I also cancelled some things that I've signed up for. I won't be settled, so I needed to cancel.
• [15:09] Logan has an awesome community that he trains with. He was given the advice to take his time, and to stop and remove the discomfort when it surfaces.
• [17:18] I'm going to try and slow down during this major move.
• [18:51] Logan also received the advice that you can go further if you go slower.
• [19:08] Pace yourself to avoid burnout. It requires an intentional focus and pace.

Memorable Quotes:

• "You don't arrive at your biggest moments overnight. You build toward them, one small, intentional step at a time." - Mary Tess
• "Whatever you're facing right now might not look like an Ironman to anyone else, but if it stretches you, it counts." - Mary Tess
• "Pacing yourself is not falling behind. It's how you make sure you actually finish strong." - Mary Tess

Links and Resources:

• Mary Tess Rooney
• Email
• Heart Value

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