Letting Go of the Obstacles That Hold You Back

As trail runners, we have all faced this: you’re halfway through a hard climb, and your body wants to stop. Your brain says, “Maybe I don’t need to finish this.” That inner voice — the one looking for a way out — is resistance.

And resistance doesn’t just show up on the trail. It comes up in life whenever we want something new, different, or better. It shows up when we try to build consistent training, take on a new goal, or make a life change that matters to us.

I have found it to be a fact of life for myself and my coaching clients – when we declare a big audacious goal to the universe, without hesitation, resistance shows up right after. All of the sudden we face unexpected obstacles and challenges. It is very easy to say “now is not the time” and abandon the goal. Not because we’re wrong to want it, but because change requires energy — and that’s hard. But the obstacle is the path to become the person that can achieve the thing we have always wanted. Instead of backing down, we need to step up to the challenge.

When We Want Something, We Often Meet a Wall

People say they want to train for an ultra, start a business, or finally find a rhythm that works. But when it’s time to take action, it’s easy to feel blocked. Suddenly, there’s not enough time, not enough money, not enough energy.

It doesn’t mean you’re lazy or unmotivated. It means you’re bumping up against the edge of what your current systems, habits, or beliefs can support.

If you already had the tools, mindset, or structure to do it easily, you would’ve done it by now. So what’s needed isn’t just more discipline — it’s growth.

We Either Make Energy or We Make Excuses

When something feels hard, your brain will try to protect you by creating a reason to back off. This is normal.

It might sound like:

• “I’m already stretched too thin.”
  
• “Now’s not the right time.”
  
• “I’m not the kind of person who can do that.”
  

But if we can’t create more energy or support for ourselves, the only other option is to create an excuse. That doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human. But recognizing this pattern is the first step to doing something different.

What Would It Look Like to Be Free of That Obstacle?

One thing I hear from runners and clients a lot is, “I don’t have time to train more — I’m already giving it everything I’ve got.”
But often, what we’re really saying is: “The way I’m currently living can’t hold this new goal.”

Here’s a personal example:
For years, I believed I couldn’t train well without a full night of sleep. If I didn’t sleep well, I skipped my workout. But I realized I never sleep well before race day, and I still run. So I started training tired — and the more I did, the more I believed I could handle it. Now, I no longer feel like I need perfect sleep to show up.

That’s what it looks like to let go of an obstacle.

Are Your Limits Actually Rules You’ve Outgrown?

Think about the “rules” you’ve set for yourself — sometimes without realizing it:

• “I can’t train after dinner.”
  
• “I’m not a morning person.”
  
• “I need to know every live call before I sign up.”
  
• “I can only focus on one thing at a time.”
  
• “I need to be in the right mood to train or work.”
  

These feel like facts, but often they’re just habits or beliefs we haven’t questioned. They feel true because we’ve practiced them. But you can become someone who doesn’t have that same limit anymore.

Ask yourself:

• What are the current rules or limits I’ve accepted about what I can or can’t do?
  
• What kind of person would I be if I no longer had that obstacle?
  
• What small step would help me become more like that version of myself?
  

This isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about being honest with yourself about what you want — and being willing to change how you think and operate to make space for it.

Just remember – you don’t need to wait until life feels easier or more settled. Growth almost never happens under perfect conditions.

I run a business, do contract work, and train for ultramarathons. I’m also in a mastermind group and have a coach. I can’t always attend things live, so I watch replays while walking the dog or doing the dishes. I’ve learned to fit in what matters, even when it’s not convenient.

That’s not about being superhuman. It’s about practicing a different way of thinking:
I want this, and I’m willing to find a way.

This is what I help people do as a coach. And it’s also what I practice in my own life, every day.

Thought-work Exercise

Make a list of:

• The rules you believe about your energy, time, and ability to follow through
  
• The personal traits or patterns you think are keeping you stuck
  
• The goals or desires that you keep putting off “until later”
  

Then ask: What would change if I believed I was someone who could work through this?

That shift — in thinking and in action — is how we grow. On the trail. In life. And everywhere in between.