What's holding you back?

What’s holding you back? It’s a question that popped up when I considered tackling the half double challenge at Gravel Worlds. Simple, yet it left me stumped. The usual culprits—finding time to train, building strength, and wondering what 16 miles on foot would feel like, followed by 75 miles on the bike—had me feeling like a rookie in the world of endurance sports.

It was March when inspiration struck. A friend had just completed the double at Mid South, and watching those runners pass by ignited something in me. These weren’t superhumans; they were regular folks having a blast and pushing boundaries. It was clear—they’d come to redefine their limits. We had no way of knowing when they ran by me that morning what the rest of the day would be like but in that moment they were crushing goals.

Too often, we’re trapped by the “what ifs.” What if I flop? What if I look ridiculous? But we forget the magical, “What if I succeed?”

For anyone familiar with endurance events, it’s a mental game. Our minds quit before our bodies do. I spent months doubting myself. Whenever someone asked if I was ready, my replies were a mix of humor and negativity.

Then, a shift happened. I decided to ditch the negative self-talk and focus on success. I visualized crossing the finish line, with the Jason and Sofia welcoming us back to Lincoln.

Event support is crucial—whether it’s on-course, from friends, or both. Luckily, the Dirt Squad had a team house, ensuring I’d be surrounded by encouragement.  Having a team that supported me made all the difference.  The Dirt Squad was there at the start line and we had members driving 8 hours just to say good luck to the rest of the team! This was so inspirational!

I convinced Lissa to join me for the half double at Unbound. My training? A bit haphazard on foot, but I was all in on the bike. When race day arrived, we were ready at the starting line. We finished the run with minimal issues, and after some rest and fuel, we tackled the bike day.

The magic wasn’t just in the event—it was in finding new limits and holding on tight. The 25K run and 78-mile bike pushed us to new heights.

As we crossed the finish line, Jason reminded me, “Remember when you doubted you could finish?” Oh, I remember, and I’m thankful I pushed through.

Five takeaways I have from this experience:

• Find a friend…everything is better when we have someone who believes in us, and we believe in them. The highs are higher and the lows are fewer.
• EAT…when it is getting hard, eat. Few things in life are not made better by some carbs.
• Embrace the suck…it is going to hurt. It is going to be uncomfortable, but you will get through it.
• Lean into it…You are doing something that people you know would give anything to have the strength to do. I lost friends to cancer who would give anything to be doing what I was not having fun at. Get over yourself Crystal and move forward.
• Smile…when you smile it uses different muscles in your face. Smile, tell yourself you are doing great and keep moving forward.

So, what’s holding you back? Is it fear, discomfort, or uncertainty? Find your answer, embrace it, and step forward. Instead of asking what if I fail, let’s ask what if I succeed.