Why I’m Removing the Noise to Train Like an Elite
When I was part of a high performance coaching team, one of the group leaders would always interrupt our discussions by shouting, "CONTEXT!"
And I feel like context is needed for you to fully grasp the takeaway of this story.
It's 5am. Sun just began its rise over the mountains. My house is still asleep--except the feisty gray cat who demanded breakfast at 4:45am.
Pre-workout was consumed and laces strapped just tight enough. A quick glance at the coach's text showed: hill sprint intervals were on the docket today.
Eight of them.
Eight. F----------cccccckkkkkkk. This is going to hurt.
One done. Two done. Three done. Four done.... sweat is pouring in my eyes. My cheeks rubbed raw from the towel that's a little too abrasive to be swiping across skin.
And that's when the whispers started, "You've done four... you can do just one and stop. You've done enough. No one will know. You can just wrap up the finisher and be done."
The bargaining already began in my head. When coach asked me to push myself at 12% incline, I challenged myself to push at 20%. Consistently.
So tapping out at 5 sprints instead of the 8 which is being requested seemed totally acceptable... in the moment.
Then a flicker was felt. A small insignificant little ember telling me, "You’re not just an athlete. You’re not just an endurance athlete. You are becoming an elite endurance athlete.”
That phrase—initially faint—grew louder and louder until I shouted it, out loud, during my final sprint up that hill.
That I AM statement? It kept me going.
Because it wasn’t just a mantra. It was a declaration. A claim. A line drawn in the dirt. I wasn’t just training. I was becoming.
THIS SEASON DEMANDS FOCUS
We live in a world of noise. Scrolling. Notifications. Posts begging to be captioned, shared, filtered.
But here’s what I know:
You can’t hear the voice of God when you’re constantly tuned into the world.
You can’t train like a champion when you’re chasing the dopamine drip of validation.
You can’t become who you were created to be if you keep playing the part for everyone else.
So, I’m removing distractions.
- Social media apps? Deleted.
- The pressure to document every moment? Released.
- Anything that pulls me away from the mission? Cut.
ANCHORING IN TRUTH
Each morning starts with the Word.
Bible open. Coffee hot. No agenda except this:
“Fill me up before the world tries to empty me.”
This isn’t just physical training. This is soul training.
If I want to climb the equivalent of Everest—if I want to become an elite endurance athlete, mind, body, and spirit—I can’t just train harder.
I have to become different.
Now, please realize. I'm not unplugging because I'm tired even though there's a bit of truth in that -- but I'm doing so because I'm called.
Called to chase a massive, God-sized dream with everything I have.
These next three month stretch demands something different of me --- it's a crossroads of sorts. Demanding intentional silence.
Not to disappear -- but to reappear as the version of myself I've always known resides inside me.
REMINDER FOR YOU
If you're chasing something that matters -- something soul deep -- you don't owe ANYONE a front-row seat to every step. You just need to keep showing up.
Train [ or work ] hard.
Speak truth over yourself.
And become the woman who doesn't just wants the result-- she’s willing to become the one who earns it.
BONUS
One thing that helps me stay grounded is to write out at least 10 "I AM" statements.... you can check more about them >> HERE << in a quick 2 minute read. Need more? Read this blog >> HERE << which helps battle that snarky little imposter syndrome bug we all get when trying to shift into who we are destined to be!
A few of mine include:
I AM... an elite endurance athlete.
I AM... rooted in Christ, not comparison.
I AM... doing the work no one sees, to become the woman no one forgets.
Grit + Gumption.
ALG
