6.5 miles. Every 6.5 hours. For 65 hours.
That’s the challenge.
However, this is not just another “ultra” challenge for a shit and a grin.
This isn’t just about hitting a number.
This is a challenge to recognize, raise awareness for, and support those living with cystic fibrosis – to help them breathe just a little bit easier.
To give you a sense of what this challenge entails, here was the schedule:
Tuesday, Sept 16
- 9:00 AM — 6.5 miles
- 3:30 PM — 6.5 miles
- 10:00 PM — 6.5 miles
Wednesday, Sept 17
- 4:30 AM — 6.5 miles
- 11:00 AM — 6.5 miles
- 5:30 PM — 6.5 miles
Thursday, Sept 18 (ROSE UP Day)
- 12:00 AM — 6.5 miles
- 6:30 AM — 6.5 miles
- 1:00 PM — 6.5 miles
- 7:30 PM — 6.5 miles
65 miles in 65 hours. 6.5 miles at a time. Every 6.5 hours.
Ten runs.
One option. Keep moving.
Here are four lessons from those 65 hours – in life and entrepreneurship:
1. Constrains = Clarity.
Running 65 miles in 65 hours sounds daunting. And it is. But, the structure of running 6.5 miles every 6.5 hours, within the constraints of the schedule, provided clarity. In reality, it eliminated decision fatigue. Each run would last roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes. Which meant I had 5 hours and 20 minutes in between runs to rest, to fuel, to stretch, to ice, and to sleep. The clarity and perspective this gave was that the running of 6.5 miles was what I did in betweenresting and recovery. Not the other way around.
Clarity.
2. Rest and Recovery is a Part of the Push.
Fuel, hydration, icing, stretching, and sleep weren’t optional — they were essential to moving forward. At the beginning and at the end, there’s an adrenaline rush that’s undeniable. In the middle, it’s an all out war on fatigue. In all cases, I had to force rest and recovery. I had to eat when I didn’t feel like it. I had to sleep in tiny windows. At some points, I had to choose one over the other. But neglecting any of it would come at my peril.
Strength doesn’t come from endless pushing – it comes from pushing and recovery.
3. I’m All In With Passion and Purpose – or I’m All Out.
That is one of my personal core values. And it was tested multiple times throughout the 65 hours. By the midnight run on Wednesday night, my legs were weak, my calf was throbbing, my mind was mush, my emotions were untethered. I was depleted in every sense. I was deep into the “fog of war.” The temptation to quit was real. The temptation to walk was real. However, what kept me going was why I was doing this — for those living with and battling CF, for those waiting for a cure, for the memory of loved ones lost (my niece Gabby). Another 6.5 miles? No problem.
Passion and purpose transforms fatigue (and fear) into fuel.
4. It Only Takes One To Start A Movement – And Only Two To Create A Community.
Last year, I did this challenge solo, without much thought or promotion. I raised $11,000 with the support of 84 donors. This year, I shared the idea with friends and family, and opened it up to biking and walking. One friend signed up. Then another. Then two others. The two others. Then my son. Then my wife, and several of her friends. Then friends from my running club ran with me. My daughter joined me for the final 3 miles. And several members of my running club joined us for the final mile. Collectively, we raised $18,000 with the support of 151 donors across the country. All together, we covered over 620 miles (running, biking, and walking) in 65 hours.
And now we have a movement. And a growing community.
PS Eat your heart out, David Goggins, your 4 x 4 x 48 is for slackers!
As I reflect on those lessons, they can be true for our personal life as well as our work life. I can relate all of it to the work I do with EOS. For companies that run on EOS:
- They practice the discipline of the meeting pulse – Level 10 Meetings™, Quarterlies, and Annual Planning. They embrace this structure and constraints, because it creates a rhythm throughout the organization. It’s how they manage the human energy and information in their organization. It creates focus, clarity, and accountability. This structure doesn’t restrict them; it creates clarity and frees them to focus on execution. Week after week. Quarter after quarter. Year after year.
- Leaders take Clarity Breaks™ to think, reset, and avoid burnout. Rest isn’t a weakness; it’s a strategy. They know that pushing nonstop is counterproductive. Strategic rest, reflection, stepping back — these are when they recharge, adjust, and return stronger.
- When their Core Focus™ and Core Values are clear, they have more than just a job. They have meaning. They have a foundation that can carry them through setbacks, headwinds, letdowns and the typical trials and tribulations that we deal with as entrepreneurs.
- They don’t go it alone. They have mentors, a coach, an operating system, and a healthy leadership team. They delegate, and coach and support others, so they can spend time in their unique ability. They invite people in and let others carry them when they’re not at their best.
Running 65 miles in 65 hours taught me that with rhythm, consistency, recovery, purpose, and community, the impossible becomes possible. Actually, more than possible – probable!