Lessons from the Trail

When I signed up for a half Ironman, I wasn’t entirely sure I could do it.

A good friend encouraged me to go for it—she even offered to train alongside me.  She was preparing for a full Ironman, so I knew our plans would look different, but we’d overlap enough to keep each other accountable.

I found an event in Oregon, hired a trainer, and began what became a 14-month journey of training. It was fun, challenging, and deeply demanding.  Some days I felt strong and steady; others, I wondered what on earth I had gotten myself into.

One weekend stands out vividly.  My training schedule lined up the Copper Triangle cycling event—79 miles, three mountain passes over 10,000 feet, and 6,500 feet of climbing—on Saturday, followed by a long run on Sunday. I’d ridden this route before, so I knew it was beautiful, grueling, and humbling.

By Sunday morning, my legs were tired but not too sore.  My training partner and I debated where to run.  I voted for flat terrain in Denver, but she wanted to stay in the cool mountain air and run the Ten Mile Recreation Path from Frisco to Copper Mountain—seven miles uphill the whole way, then we would turn around and do the seven back down.

I wasn’t thrilled.  I whined.  She smiled and said, “We’re already here; it’ll be perfect.”  She was right.  So off we went.

It didn’t take long before my body rebelled.  My breath grew ragged, my legs felt like lead, and I kept stopping, I was frustrated.  Finally, I voiced my disappointment, and my friend looked at me and said words I’ll never forget:

“It doesn’t have to be perfect, Angelique. You just have to get it done.”

That simple truth shifted everything.

I slowed my pace, stopped overanalyzing my form, stopped worrying about how I looked, and simply focused on moving forward—one step, one breath, one mile at a time.

That day taught me one of my greatest lessons in BodyMind wisdom: strength isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.  It’s about listening to what your body needs, adjusting your pace, and trusting that forward is enough.

Since then, I’ve carried that reminder into so many parts of life and business.  Whenever I catch myself trying to do it all “just right,” I hear her voice in my head: It doesn’t have to be perfect.  You just have to keep moving.

Because progress over perfection is always better than standing still.

BodyMind Reflection

• Where in your life are you holding back because you want it to be perfect?
• What would it look like to loosen your grip, listen to your body, and take one steady step forward—without judgment?
• How might that change how you experience your own strength?

On the trail, there’s always a moment where your legs burn, your breath shortens, and the summit feels far away.

That moment is the teacher.  It reminds you that strength isn’t just physical—it’s mental and emotional too.

Inner strength isn't something we find only at the finish line.  It's built in the moments when we listen, adjust and keep going - especially when things get hard.

You can always alter your pace or your path.  You just have to keep moving.