There’s a unique connection between the hardships we face in life and those we experience on the trails. As ultra runners, we spend countless hours pushing ourselves, testing the limits of our bodies and minds. We willingly seek out discomfort, steep climbs, and miles of solitude. But is there a deeper connection between life’s challenges and the challenges we endure while running? Do life’s struggles make us better runners, or does running help us better navigate life’s ups and downs? I was asked this on a podcast I was recently on. Since then I have not been able to stop thinking about it. So this morning as I sip my coffee I will do my best to see where my thoughts go.

Life is unpredictable. We face stress from work, relationships, or even health concerns, and sometimes it feels like everything is piling on. Running, especially ultra running, isn’t all that different. A race can be going perfectly, and suddenly, a wrong step or nutrition issue sends us into a spiral. In both running and life, we learn that no matter how prepared we are, things can and will go wrong.

So, do life’s hardships make running easier? In a way… yes. The grit we develop dealing with personal challenges often transfers to our running. Whether it’s juggling responsibilities, managing stress, or overcoming grief, each experience hardens us. We become more resilient, more adaptable, and ultimately more capable of tackling tough races. Running, and all of it’s discomfort, becomes a familiar place where we can work through these emotions. The trail becomes a place to process, to breathe, to embrace the challenge head on.

But the reverse is also true. Running prepares us for life’s hardships. On the trail, you learn patience, humility, and the ability to keep moving forward when everything hurts. That’s not just physical pain but mental and emotional fatigue. Each long run, workout, or race teaches us perseverance and lessons we carry into life’s toughest moments. When life throws its curveballs, the mental fortitude developed through miles of endurance kicks in. We know how to break things down, to take one step at a time, and keep going no matter how difficult things get.

What’s often overlooked is the internal dialogue we have with ourselves. Something that becomes a critical tool, not only for running but also for navigating life. Every runner has heard that little voice on a tough climb or at mile 75 of an ultra saying, “I can’t do this.” It’s easy to want to silence that voice, but true growth comes from listening to it.

At the elite level, the ability to truly listen to your inner voice becomes paramount. It’s not about hearing the doubts and fears but about discerning what your body and mind need in the moment. Maybe it’s time to push harder. Maybe it’s time to slow down, recalibrate, and find a sustainable rhythm. This dialogue becomes a dance between resilience and compassion all while understanding when to push beyond limits and when to step back and honor where you are.

For an elite ultra runner, this inner conversation can be a matter of winning or DNF’ing. In life, it’s just as critical. The inner voice isn’t just about endurance and toughness, it’s about learning self-awareness. Are we ignoring our needs physically, mentally, or emotionally by pushing too hard, or are we truly in tune with ourselves? That’s a question that was brought to me in therapy recently. I can’t believe how much it applies to both life and running.

Even if you’re not running 100 miles through mountain ranges, there’s something to learn from how ultra runners interact with hardships. Life and running both require resilience, patience, and the ability to listen to your inner voice. When we push ourselves physically, we often reveal hidden mental and emotional strengths. We become  familiar with our limits and learn when to challenge them and when to respect them.

The beauty is, life and running are reflections of each other. The hardships faced on the trail mirror the challenges we face in life, and both teach us that growth comes not from avoiding pain but from embracing it. Maybe the old Buddhist Proverb is correct! Whether you’re an elite runner or someone just looking for a way to cope with life, it’s all about staying in the moment, listening to your body and mind, and taking that next step forward, no matter how hard it gets.