Go Further & Explore More...
"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
Christopher Reeve
“Impossible is Nothing” was a slogan first introduced by Adidas twenty years ago in 2004. The term was taken from a larger Muhammad Ali quote and must have worked to capture the imagination of the sneaker-buying world as Adidas’ global sales rose 15% in the year after the slogan’s marketing rollout. Much like the man, Ali himself, the quote has a complete conviction about it, flirting with being on the arrogant side of things. It almost brushes off and diminishes the incredible effort, imagination and determination that is required (amongst other things!) to complete the ‘impossible.’ What I love about the Christopher Reeve quote above is how it demonstrates that by breaking down the seemingly impossible into steps and processes, it is possible to conquer the impossible. Running or hiking any distance can be very much like this - especially trail ultra running - as when faced with seemingly impossible distances and elevations to traverse and overcome, it is possible to break it down one step at a time…splitting the overall challenge into many smaller ones to help achieve the goal. A good example is the marathon that can be reexamined as two 10-mile runs with a 10km at the end. This is still daunting and hard but seems more digestible than one overall 26-mile effort. What else can this principle be used for? What areas of work, life or hobbies can the principle be applied to… by breaking down the overall task into easy-to-manage elements, you may be surprised at how easy the impossible is to accomplish. Only then can you have the swagger and arrogance of Ali and say it was nothing…
Until next week, be safe and enjoy the trails...
Elhousine Elazzaoui started chasing camels in the Morrocan Desert. Now he is one of the top stars of the ultra-running world. This is his story…
What a great tale…from finding a unique challenge and having the determination to complete it to the fact the guy looks like a bonafide wizard…
Professional athletes have a deep well of useful knowledge and experience on the mental challenges faced when tackling an ultra…
All of this inspiring and motivating talk of ultras must have got your juices flowing…if so, these are the races to look out for in 2025…
📸 Quinto do Pisão, Lisbon, Portugal
Each week, I update the Kings of the Trail playlist with a new selection of music. Just like trail runs or hikes, it will be a varied and eclectic journey, but hopefully, there will be something for everyone to enjoy…
This week is not a running tune or a lively banger to get you up and on your feet, far from it. As you can imagine, there are a few songs out there on the subject of impossibility, but as it’s almost Christmas, this one seemed appropriate…not due to the subject matter but due to the voice…so smooth and festive it makes me want to drink mulled wine and eat mince pies. Enjoy.
Comments