Category: My Personal Journey
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Being the best is overrated
Let me tell you a secret. I’ve worked with professional athletes across a few different sports now. There’s something that they all share in common. They all think they’re not good enough. Guess what? Being the best is overrated.
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Hidden Gem #4 – Be where you are
I’ve done a bit of a 180 lately (famously my favourite move to do off the diving board). I’ve lived life in the slow lane, and by proxy of doing so in a foreign language, it’s been very much not in the comfort of normalcy. For the past two weeks, I’ve just really embodied this…
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How I trained for Squamish & Quebec Mega Trail without any mountains
Two weeks ago, I finished as the top Ontario athlete at the Canadian National Championships – Squamish 50K, behind a host of names from Quebec, BC and Alberta. Of the top twenty-one finishers, Steph and I are the only Ontario outliers. One of the reasons why it’s such a rarity to see any athletes outside…
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Lessons from the 2024 Squamish 50K
According to Strava, I’ve never raced harder. Racing toward a near top-ten finish at a National Championship through injury, I shouldn’t be surprised. But with so many positives to take away from the race, I wanted to detail a dossier of what worked and what didn’t. It’s a library of information for myself, that hopefully…
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The keys to recovery & celebrating the present
Training is so much more than the actual act of training. My hypothesis is that it’s about 70% recovery from training, and 30% actual training. If you don’t get the right… 1. Sleep 2. Hydration 3. Nutrition 4. Positive vibes You will not be recovering (and therefore training) to your full potential. These are the…
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Squamish 50K Recap – Front row seat
For the past two weeks, I had two main concerns: Not starting. Not finishing. I just did both. & had the most fun I’ve ever managed to do when racing on the trails. Here is my recap of the Squamish 50K – including my front row seat to the battle for first in the women’s…
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Writing for myself
I like writing best when it’s (almost entirely) for myself. It’s nice if other people get something out of my work. One small takeaway. One small laugh. One small eyebrow raise of utter confusion. BUT, I like writing best when it’s a library of educational content for myself.
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Quebec Mega Trail 50K Recap – We all fall down
QMT 50K this year was a rough one. Raining all morning – the course was as slippery as can be, especially in the already incredibly difficult Mestachibo.
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The past is in the past
I’ve often struggled to accept life’s grandest of changes. It hits me hard. Sometimes for weeks. Sometimes for months. Battling all of that the past few months has taught me the harsh lesson that I should have already known from years of listening to CHVRCHES. The past is in the past, it isn’t meant to…
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Coaching myself to the Quebec Mega Trail 50K
Like Lil’ Wayne, I’ve spent the past few weeks listening to myself. Listening to my body. Listening to what I know works for me. Listening to what I know I enjoy.
Rhys Desmond 