Hey Reader,
Every day we have trials to run.
A business to show up to, a workout to do, or a meeting to attend, all leading up to a big vivid vision.
But people easily give up their pursuits because they lack the motivation to keep up.
And deep down, they know they’re not living up to their potential.
In today’s issue, we’ll explore ways you can fire up your motivation as you scale in life.
🗯️ Mastering your trial of miles
The idea of the Trial of Miles comes from one of my favorite running books: Once a Runner by John L. Parker.
It’s a story about Quenton Cassidy, a fictional elite runner who embodies the idea that the secret to achieving greatness is that there is no secret.
It’s just about lacing up your shoes and running every single day.
John L. Parker, a former elite runner, talks about his trial of miles as having been a pretty bumpy path, to say the least, and his personal battles have evolved over the years.
If he finds himself dreading an upcoming workout, he thinks of what drives him. Then, he simply walks out the door.
When he is really struggling with motivation, simply lacing up his shoes often does the trick.
Years ago, it was the images burned in his head of his rivals on the track and cross-country course.
Today, it is more of a release or an escape from his daily toil.
The workouts that he dreads throughout the day or the night before bring him the greatest sense of elation as soon as he gets started.
Then come the days when he knows that he’ll be better off not running.
Those are the days he leaves the shoes on the shelf and hops on his bike, or takes his dog for a day hike.
If his body is really telling him it’s time for a break, he spends the day floating in his kayak, reading a book, or just enjoying one of his favorite movies.
It is all cumulative. Days, weeks, months, and years of mileage add up.
The idea of the Trial of Miles is simply the relentless, grueling, and not-so-rosy process of achieving greatness through consistent effort and perseverance.
So, the question is: what drives you?
🧠 The fight to follow through
It’s risky to build the success of your dreams on a faint motivation.
What happens when there’s a dip in motivation?
You set a goal. A big one.
Something that excites you.
Something that feels like the next step in your journey.
You’re showing up every day, putting in the work, and seeing results.
But then, something unexpected happens.
It’s not a dramatic curveball, it’s just stronger than your motivation to show up that day.
So you start counting…
A missed workout here, a skipped session there.
You tell yourself “It’s just for today” or “I’ll make up for it tomorrow,”
But tomorrow comes, and the cycle repeats.
Until you start doubting your ability to follow through.
Now you’re looking for quick fixes, the fastest route to success, the hack that will save you time, or a quick strategy that will give you an edge.
But there are no shortcuts to success, so you’ve become restless, frustrated, and disappointed in yourself.
Your frustration builds, and your goal is starting to feel impossible.
The more you try to keep up, the more distant you feel from your big dream.
What happened?
It’s the slow, gradual slide into inconsistency.
❤️ The power of showing up
We each have our trials of miles and battles to overcome.
There is a burning “why” in each of us that drives us to get out the door each day.
When that motivation is strong enough to constantly fire you up, you’ll be driven to show up every single day.
Not in your feelings for that workout? You’ll lace your shoes anyway.
A curveball screwed your calendar? You’ll show up for that commitment anyway.
You’ll realize your vision is bigger than a fleeting moment of weakness or desire for comfort.
You’ll consistently show up with confidence, purpose, and a strong “why” that’s a superior part of your dream.
Until your dream becomes an inspiring reality.
You’ll have no doubt that you can handle whatever comes your way.
And that belief is the foundation of becoming unstoppable.
🤲 Your daily commitment to excellence
Once a Runner worked on my mindset in approaching the messy, challenging part of achieving success.
These are 6 power practices I drew from the book to help you tighten your motivation for continued success:
- Kill the shortcuts and secret mindset: There are no hidden tricks or quick fixes to success. You have to put in the work, day after day, even when progress feels slow or invisible.
- Don’t play with your motivation: If what drives you in the last goal you achieved no longer serves this bigger pursuit, ditch it. As you evolve, revisit your “why” and make sure it’s stronger than ever, else you’re going to slip into inconsistency.
- Don’t let go of consistency: People like intensity, but one heroic effort or a single moment of brilliance may not give lasting success. It’s the build-up of small, consistent actions over time that gives the extraordinary results you aspire to achieve.
- Embrace the thorns: You already know it’s going to get hard. It’s going to suck at some point. It may feel boring, painful, or inconvenient. But this is where your motivation will help you.
- Rate your mental and physical resilience: You can’t do extraordinary things if you slip off at the slightest dip in motivation. And your motivation may not save you all the time. But when your mindset is built to never back down, you’ll become the person who doubles your chase for something because it appears hard. That’s a killer mental fitness.
- Personalize your journey: Everyone’s “Trial of Miles” is unique. Your purpose cannot fit into another’s, so don’t think you can fit into someone else’s. Make your goal and the why unique to you, not a bucket list borne out of unhealthy comparison.
🎯 What’s your trial of miles?
What challenges do you have to power through to win your goal?
You can choose to lace up your shoes, head out the door, and face it with motivation, grit, resilience, and purpose.
Or pretend you don’t have to.
But those trials never go away until you get them out of your way.
It’s your “Trial of Miles.”
Lately, I’ve lived my own trial of miles.
With the stress of launching a new mastermind concept, juggling an interim role, maintaining a consistent fitness routine, being a caring father and supportive husband, and handling every other reason I get out of bed.
It’s not always glamorous.
But I’m living with the satisfaction of the lessons learned, the growth, and the fulfillment of knowing I’m giving it my all.
With appreciation,
Huw
P.S: Struggling to stay consistent? Reply to this email with one small habit you’re committing to this week. Let’s hold each other accountable.
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Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
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