Chapter 1: Pushing Your Limits

On a hot Saturday afternoon, July 10, 2021, I found myself slogging through the dirt, coated in mud and sweat. Salt stung my eyes, making it hard to blink, and it was nearly impossible to distinguish between my shirt and skin.

For the last hour, I wouldn’t quite label what I was doing as running; it felt more like an uncoordinated stumble.

A few weeks prior, a wild idea had struck me: I would run my age—thirty-four miles for my thirty-fourth birthday. While some golfers manage to shoot their age in their later years, why couldn't I achieve something equally impressive? I convinced myself, “I’m in decent shape. It’s going to be tough, but I can handle it.”

How wrong I was about the toughness.

Back to that sweltering Saturday afternoon. My AirPods had died, and my hydration pack was empty. Each stride felt like tiny knives jabbing at my quads. Four miles remained, but it felt more like forty.

I began to fantasize about the relief of stopping. I envisioned my car at the end of the road, a black stallion waiting for my weary self. The thought of sitting down, loosening my shoes, and soaking up the sun after accomplishing something few dare to do was intoxicating.

Three miles left.

Hunger gnawed at me. My energy gels and chews were long gone, and I could barely register my stomach's emptiness. I didn’t know that my very essence could crave food like this.

Two miles to go.

Pain enveloped me. It was everywhere—my quads, calves, feet, toes, arms, chest, neck, and even the hair on my head. Every ounce of my energy was focused on just staying upright.

One mile remaining.

My vision blurred. Sounds became unintelligible. I couldn’t feel my hat; had it vanished? I reached up—thankfully, it was still there. As I approached the finish line, I couldn’t help but feel like something monstrous lurked just beyond the bend, ready to consume me. But no—it was just a tangle of broken branches.

The finish line was finally in sight.

We often fixate on our limitations.

Don’t misunderstand me; some limits can be useful. Knowing how much to eat, how much to drink, and how long to binge-watch a series are all important boundaries.

However, limits can also be deceptive. If we’re not cautious, they can severely hinder personal growth.

Think back to a moment when you set an arbitrary limit on yourself. Maybe you shied away from a promotion at work, convincing yourself you weren’t smart, confident, or skilled enough to pursue it. Perhaps you’re comfortable with 10ks, dismissing a half marathon as too daunting, telling yourself, “My body couldn’t handle that; I’m better off with what I know.”

That’s just nonsense.

You’re imposing limits out of fear. Fear that if you reach for that next step, you might falter. Fear that if you stumble, it will all be over, and you’ll be destined for a lesser existence simply because you didn’t venture beyond your comfort zone.

Once again, that’s nonsense.

How can you discover your true potential if you never challenge yourself? How can you uncover your talents if you don’t confront your limits and push through?

You possess the capability for far more than you realize. You just need to have faith in yourself and the courage to pursue it.

I managed to complete my thirty-four-mile journey because I truly believed I could. Maybe it was a mix of ignorance and overconfidence, but I was convinced I would succeed.

The next time you face a seemingly impossible challenge, remember: your success is entirely in your hands. You decide whether to pause, take a breath, and carry on or to give in.

There will be challenges. There will be barriers. Some will tell you it’s too difficult, too risky, too insane.

Face those doubts head-on, smile, and keep pushing forward.

July 10th, 2021, Deer Park Forest Preserve near Chicago, IL

Chapter 2: You Are Capable of More

In this inspiring TEDx talk, Paneez Oliai shares insights on how our mindset can limit our potential, urging us to recognize that we are capable of more than we often believe.

This video explores the incredible capacity of human beings, emphasizing that our limitations are often self-imposed, and we can achieve far more if we push ourselves.

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