How do you Define Success?

How do you define success? Is it in absolutes or on more general terms? Is there some sort of formula to get you there, or a simple math equation to guarantee the outcome?

I wish.

But even with that wish - for there to be a clear path, and clear direction to achievement - defining success in such narrow parameters misses the most important moments necessary for growth. As I think about definitions of general success and athletic success, there’s a pretty clear narrative - the more you win, or do, the more successful you are. But is it really that simple? Is winning really the point at which you achieve success? What about the beauty in failure, and all that we inevitably learn through struggle, don’t those moments force us to become better, and contribute to success, too?

In many ways, my journey through injury, and setback has negatively impacted my ‘success.’ I spent months not running or competing, rebuilding myself as other competitors built their racing pedigree. I even took time to learn a new sport, entering gravel races and incorporating cycling into my training. Wasn’t I wasting time doing a sport I wasn’t actually good at? There was a time when I thought these moments were obstacles to success, a distraction even. But, the more I examine these times, the low moments, the (sometimes) forced introspection that comes with injury, and breaks from competition, the more I learned that these moments have contributed far more to my ‘success’ than any singular race win or achievement.

It’s in the low moments when I feel the weakest, I learn how strong I am. The moments where I feel like a beginner, which teach me to be humble and remain hungry for opportunities to learn. Many times when I couldn’t run, and had no idea when, or if, I’d be able to, taught me resilience. Each day was an opportunity to keep going, and keep choosing to believe in myself, and the process - no matter how many ups and downs there were. All of these unexpected lessons and hard moments have contributed to my success, and have changed how I view it’s definition. Winning and achievement are important milestones in anyones career, especially those of an athlete’s, but absolute success, at least in the way I define it, isn’t so simple.