Recently, Mark Divine—boosts my confidence How Des Linden Keeps Showing Up and Unbeatable Mind—shared his story at the Rodale Headquarters in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Commander Divine developed the SEALFIT program, which instructs athletes as well as over achieving everyday folks in a mental and physical transformation of mind and body. But the weak need not apply: the demanding training combines CrossFit, plyometrics, weightlifting, yoga, running, and martial arts all wrapped into a two-hour workout. In addition, there’s breathing control and visualization exercises for developing mental toughness and stamina.
I wanted to learn more. Why not? As SEALFIT is appealing to athletes interested in improving endurance. But could I really hold a plank for 45 minutes or be submerged in a muddy ice bath for who knows how long? It’s all part of the six-month preparation for the 20X Challenge—a one day (12-14 hours) boot camp modeled after Navy SEAL training, held at certified gyms across the country. The name of the 20X Challenge comes from its goal of teaching you that you’re capable of 20 times more than you think.
Along with the physical conditioning, teamwork is essential to completing the 20X. Working as a team, participants can carry huge loads, drag sand bags, and motivate one another to levels of performance that previously seemed unattainable, all with a non-quitting attitude.
In addition, SEALFIT comes with an unexpected caveat: the commander’s mantra is "Feeling good, looking good, ought to be in Hollywood." He believes that if you look and feel good about yourself you will perform to the best of your ability. The idea makes sense: if I look sharp, it boosts my confidence Running in the Cold.
And no, it doesn’t have to be in camo.
Last month during the run portion of a triathlon I kept this in mind and told myself I looked good—even as I’m sure the outside world saw just another sweaty runner traipsing by—and had a great race. Coincidence perhaps, but the more my confidence increased the better I felt and the faster I ran.
For your next big event, come up with your own mantra or try the commander’s. It might help get you through some tough spots and may even make you smile.
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Lori is part of the Runner's World Challenge (soon to be Runner's World VIP) group headed to the Marine Corps Marathon. To learn how you can be part of the RW VIP program, visit runnersworld.com/vip.
