Every Friday for about a year I cycled in the West Coast National Park, because I was too fearful of cycling amongst the traffic in town. One particular day, that all came to a crumbling horrific end. I saw an Ostrich and her baby. For some reason the ostrich must have felt threatened and this enormous bird literally flew across the thorn trees at the speed of a marathon runner.
I literally could not out-cycle it. This bird was fast! It tried to grab me from behind and claw me off the bike. At the moment of truth a car headed towards me in the opposite direction to wedge itself between me and the ostrich. It seemed like a supernatural intervention to save me.
That ostrich encounter was my breaking point. The time I no longer felt safe to train in that park. Has your life ever been threatened? Close out the safe option when it becomes unsafe, and metabolise your pain. In life, in business, in sport. Metabolise your pain and convert your suffering into a signal and develop Plan B.
When the competition launches a new product and your loyal client base forgets you, or when a hostile takeover threatens your position—that's your Kilometer 70.
- Diagnose: The breaking point is not discomfort; it's the moment your long-term trajectory is threatened.
- Stability: I calculated the cost of stopping (losing fitness) vs finding a new ground (sans ostriches!). Stability, not bravado.
- Reframe: Safeguard yourself from the threat happening again. Protecting my life was heavier than the fear of finding a new place.
Decide correctly under these circumstances and sometimes coming up with "Plan B" is the smartest move you can make.
Lara Kaplan
Kilometer 70 Blog™
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