87 Days to Ultraman Mexico: Broader Context
Just one day removed from the race and I already don’t know how to feel about Ironman Lake Placid being done.
It went so well, but a part of me searches for negatives. There’s a tinge of fear at the edges of my mind. The fact is hard work works. The question is how much hard work will Ultraman Mexico require? One of the hardest endurance races in the world. That doesn’t even factor in the logistical and financial challenges of just getting there.
Looking at Ultraman Mexico, a pass/fail duality arises in me. The reframe comes when I zoom out to the 1,000 day vision of the Ultraman World Championship. On that scale, Mexico is just a first attempt. The 1,000 day goal isn’t about racing or hitting a goal in a specific timeframe despite its name. It is about living life in alignment day after day, checking in with core values and taking action. It’s not truly about the 1,000 days at all. That’s just the right-sized goal for me. Ultimately, it’s about every single day. Waking up with intention and purpose. It is a goal that requires true balance. Not the easy to define static balance of ironclad routine but a living, dynamic equilibrium that must constantly rebalance as variables change. It’s a problem that is never fully solved. That is what I need to stay engaged. A fresh take on a familiar problem every day. If I could just set my life on autopilot and do 1000 exactly the same I would learn nothing and hate the process.
Within this broader context, Ultraman Mexico transforms from a massive problem to solve into an exciting challenge. One that is almost absurd in scale. My plan was never to compete in an Ultraman this year. Ultraman Mexico didn’t even exist when I was signing up for my races this year. I was looking at doing Ultraman Florida in 2026 with a lot more time to prepare. Once I saw Ultraman Mexico I knew I had no choice. I sent in my application immediately and my year was totally changed. As I have progressed through each race this year I keep asking myself the same questions: Why am I doing this to myself and dragging people along? Why write another 500 words before bed when I could just rest? Why am I doing 20 more minutes of stretching at 1am when I could just do it in the morning? Is it to cross a finish line, to be a “good” writer, or to be recognized for my character and ethic? Yes, I want those things, but they are not the goal. They are mere byproducts. The satisfaction comes from living, from being and doing. I pursue these things because I’ve looked inside, and seen this is who I am.
My life has been a season after season of change. Looking back, I don’t see growth I see discovery. I feel I’ve become more myself over time. I haven’t left anything behind; everything I was, I still am. Everything I am, I always was. Everything I may be, I currently am. My life’s work is about bringing potential to the surface. Exploring the depths of the self and putting it all out there. My hope is that this helps other people do the same. We all have our own self to explore and nobody can tell you how it’s done. I believe that by sharing my own adventure and exploration I will provide an example that you can use as a reference point for your own exploration.