Before my first run, after my second run, and after my third run.

This past weekend I participated in a Ragnar Relay, one of 12 runners on my team who ran a combined 200 miles over the span of 30 hours. And as anyone who has gone running knows, running affords you plenty of time to think (whether you like it or not.)

As I settled in my first run of three, the internal voices I remembered so well from my cross country days came back. There was the “I want to quit” voice. And also the, “It’s hard because you’re pushing yourself. Keep going!” voice.

On top of these very specific voices, I tuned in to an observational voice. I couldn’t help but see parallels between the lessons of the race and lessons in leadership. What follows are the race moments and the observations that came from them:

1. Take heed when you see others struggling. My first run was warm and sunny, with limited shade. A woman in front of me started stopping to walk periodically, passing me when she started running again, me passing her when she walked. One of the times as I passed her, she mumbled something about how hot it was. It was distracting, and I likely would have run better if she’d kept up a steady pace. But I used the moment to take note and register that my own breathing was getting a bit out of control. I then focused on regulating it and keeping a measured pace.

The takeaway: You don’t have to experience something yourself to adjust to your environment or changes around you. Don’t let someone else’s example discourage you or steer you off course. But do let them be a resource to you.

2. When you feel good and the path is easy, go all out and don’t hold back. My second run was in the complete dark, running with only a headlamp, the stars, and the lights of other runners to illuminate my way. It was five and half miles through flat farmland. I was excited to be running again after hours of watching my teammates and cheering on other runners. And I knew if I spent my energy early, I could still make it to the finish just fine. I didn’t over-analyze; I just ran.

The takeaway: When you get excited about a project or initiative or idea, and you can see the way forward, RUN! So often, it’s not easy (to work, to build, to create.) Often, these tasks take discipline and thought and mental stamina. When you have the wind at your back and feel invincible, let loose and see how far that adrenaline will take you.

3. The excitement will end, and that’s when it’s important to have a process and systems that will carry you forward. After feeling exhilaration and boundless energy for a couple of miles, I started feeling some discomfort. I backed off the pace and reminded myself that I still had a ways to go. Suddenly the finish line seemed far away and I thought how nice it would be to stop running and stop being uncomfortable. That’s when I reminded myself to look up at the reflective vest and bobbing headlight ahead of me. I focused on the next runner and imagined a rope was connecting us. I focused on their back and let them pull me in. And when I passed them, I said “Good job”, moved in front, and looked ahead to find the next person.

Even as this plan was working quite successfully, my mind would wander and would wish that I could stop. Which is when I reminded myself to stick to the process, the system that was working. I didn’t need to come up with lots of ways to motivate myself. I already found a way that worked. I just needed to stick with it.

The takeaway: We crave variety, or maybe we simply forget that if something is working or worked in the past, we can keep using it until it no longer works. When you’re not spending energy and mental space coming up with a successful process, you can direct more energy into the process itself, allowing it to work more powerfully.

4. Sometimes there’s no one (visible) ahead of you, and you both get to and have to be the leader. The last run was the toughest for me. My body was sore; I hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep; and the net elevation decrease had tricked me into thinking it would be an easy route. A mile or so in, I was giving into the voices of weakness. I tried going back to my process from the night before — looking at the next person ahead of me. This worked okay. But then there was no one in sight (the windy roads were a contrast to the miles-long straight stretches of the night before.) Now what?

The takeaway: Sometimes you’ll find there’s no one around you. There can be excitement in this — you’re ahead of the curve! — but it’s easy to dial back your energy level and work less intently. You have to pay more attention to the route you’re charting, because you can’t simply follow in the footsteps of the person in front of you. This is when you have to be internally motivated. Acknowledge that it’s harder in front but it’s a privilege you’re going to take seriously and honor. Don’t let up and don’t become complacent. You still want to be the best you can be, even if no one’s watching or appreciates how much you’re rocking it.

I love running, but it requires a lot of you. Only you know how much you’re hurting or how much more you have to give (and even then, we never truly know how much more we have to give.) It’s a lot of pressure to want to do your best. But when you don’t hold back, and instead frame the discomfort as a sign that you’re achieving your potential, you’ll be amazed at how far (and how fast) you can go.

Shout-out to my awesome team, “No Sleep Til Freeland”. You all were amazing. And thanks also for all the great photos.