Co-Founder's BLOG - Affirmation in the Mountains
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Affirmations in the Mountains
“I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong”
I was on the floor stretching, looking out the window as the sun was about to rise, and I was repeating to myself my affirmation. While the different stretches prepared my body, the repetition of my affirmation prepared my mind. A fifteen minute moving meditation to shake the slumber off, connect with the breath, focus the mind and limber up the body. Today I choose challenge, I choose pain, I choose hard, I choose to run up a mountain. Why? Because I can. Because my body still can. Because my mind still wants to. Because doing this proves to myself that I can do difficult things and overcome challenges when I set my mind to it. It allows me to bring a different perspective of challenge and suffering and overcoming to my daily challenges and reminds me of the knowledge that I have a greater capacity to endure suffering and hardship and to overcome through hard work, repetition of my affirmation, and commitment to action to achieve my goals. Deep breath in, and exhale. Ok, now breakfast.
My oldest friend Dan made the coffee, his son Ezra got his water bottle together, and we all ate our bagel, egg n cheese sandwiches, while reviewing the weather, the course map, and our gear. At 13 this was Ezra’s first Loon Mountain Race; for Dan and I we’ve done it 5 or 6 times in the past two decades - missing years for injury, surgeries, our weddings, and living too far away. This would not be my first time running after an injury, but it would be my first time running with THIS injury. I have a thumbnail size abrasion on the talus bone on the front of my left ankle (an egg shape bone that connects the leg to the foot and absorbs all the impact when running, walking, or generally putting weight on that foot). Being in that location, its very difficult to get good blood flow to the area to promote the bodies ability to heal the cartilage; and there is currently no process for surgically treating it in the USA in October 2025 that doesn’t have a 4-6 month timeline for recovery, and a less than 90% success rate. I have been resting and using ice treatment, and Physical Therapy, with topical and pill form of Glucosamine and Chondroitin in an effort to catalyze my recovery. I started running, but reinjured it again, and have shifted to non impact exercise - mostly riding my mountain bike, swimming and pool running, and the rowing machine. So this was the first time I was going to actually run on my ankle in about 5 months, and it was 6 miles up 3,000 vertical feet to the summit of Loon Mountain in NH.
A quick drive to the mountain, and we were immersed in the phenomenal running community that challenges themselves with this run each year. Ezra wasn’t nervous. He asked a few questions, then got into his pre-race routine, (he competed in JV Cross Country as a 7th grader last year, and knew what he had to do to get his race mindset.) Registration went quickly and with good vibes, the sun was out but it was still cool, the positive energy was palpable. We were soon pinning our numbers on our shirts, and massing towards the starting line. Huge grin as the countdown began and when we reached 2… 1, we were off and moving. A slow shuffle at first, watching those in front create the space for us to move into. But then we start to climb, and spread out, we high five, and Dan and Ezra are off and I’m running my own race.
I know how to run this race, and I reassure myself by reviewing my plan as I settle into a rhythm. I inhale for four strides, and exhale for 4 strides and my mind calms, and I find my jog point. To me the jog point is the maximum pace at which I can continue indefinitely without getting tired and needing to stop for rest or water. When running 6 miles uphill, its not a very fast pace, but it is a very self aware pace. You need to know your fitness, your leg power, your breath, your ability to maintain it over different terrain with different grades. When you know the course route, and are self aware of your body’s jog point, you can try and maximize your efficiency, and that is my mental challenge to myself. Choose the shortest route, get on the inside of every corner, don’t slow yourself down on the few descents, open up and maximize the speed in those spots, try and jog for a little bit longer than the person in front of you does, and try and start your jog again after the walking break just a little bit earlier than the people around you. All of these things were going through my mind, and already two miles were gone.
Once my mind started to slow down, and feel like I had this under control, it did a check in with my body and noticed that I hadn’t thought about my ankle at all up to that point. Interesting. As soon as I focus on it, I notice that I’m not running naturally anymore. I’m not letting my foot just fall and my body just work properly. I'm thinking about it, and the consciousness makes the motions less fluid and more awkward. Within a few minutes I have managed to step on my foot wrong, and send a shooting pain up my leg and spine, “cmon Todd, what are you doing?” I remember my affirmation. Now is the time I need it, now is the time to use it. ““I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong.” Good, Again. “I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong.” Again. I let my mind focus on the words, the repetition, the rhythm. “I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong.” Ok, now I’m back to a smooth gait, my foot fall is natural, and I’m not thinking about my form, I’m repeating my affirmation and thinking about timing my breathing with my footfalls. I find the flow.
My affirmation becomes a mantra.
“I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong”
I repeat it for the next 90 minutes. There is nothing else. Me, the Mountain, the trail, and my affirmation.
I encourage my senses to find the beauty as I move up the mountain. My eyes hone in on singular wildflowers, searching for one that represents perfection for the species. My ears listen to the wind through the trees at higher elevations, as well as the efforts, exertion and encouragement of myself and my competitors. My mouth tastes the dryness and the dust/pollen that gets kicked up in certain sections. I wear “minimalist” trail running shoes to try and feel the terrain, but I may have hindered myself by adding in that insole for extra support, as I mostly feel the insert on the bottom of my feet. As we get closer to the finish the views start to get better, and a much appreciated cloud provides a respite from the sun. “I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong”
The Upper Walking Boss, the black diamond ski trail that gains 1,000 feet of elevation over the final mile, at 40% grade it claims to be the steepest trail on the United States Trail Running Championships circuit. This is where your fitness is really tested, and this year mine came up lacking. Not being able to run as part of my race training left me woefully unprepared for the BOSS. I leaned on my mantra, ate my humble pie, slowed my jog to a walk, and just tried not to stop. “I am strong. My mind is strong, My body is strong, My legs are strong, My ankle is strong” Before long I saw Ezra and Dan cheering, and the finish line ahead. I hustled to try and jog the last 100 yards, but it was a struggle, not able to perform as I had hoped. But I finished. I had done it again. And this time with a significant physical challenge to overcome, and I had overcome it. It felt great to stop, and breathe, and rehydrate, and cheer on the remaining racers.
As we went down the mountain in the gondola we discussed our races, and I learned that Dan barely beat out Ezra, and that Ezra had a really fast time up the BOSS, and he thought it was awesome and he wants to do it again next year! I told them about my affirmation and how it helped me through, as we walked down to the river to soak our legs, feet and ankles in the cold mountain runoff. Even at less than 100% I was able to finish. Even when I was in physical pain I was able to redirect my conscious mind through affirmation repetition. Through a combination of rhythmic action, affirmation repetition and synched breathing I was able to achieve a flow state. Next time something seems difficult, or I feel like I can’t do something, I will remember back to my July run to the summit of Loon Mountain, and how I can use the power of affirmations to train my brain to help me accomplish anything.
Send Us Your Stories! What affirmation do you use? How do you use it?
ON THE HORIZON
Just 9 Days left till the launch of the Strong Women’s line of Affirmation Tees in Women’s specific cuts! Tell your friends!
In my binoculars I can see the Future line of Affirmation clothing for babies, toddlers, kids and big kids…it’s coming into focus in November.
Some wild news to share soon! A few hints: old school screen printing, donuts - specifically Maine Potato Donuts, garages, and a successful local multi-entrepreneur! You are not going to believe this!
Affirmation Nomination
We are growing our list of Affirmations, and want nominations from you, our Affirmers, what affirmation should Ray hand draw next!
AFFIRMERS: The Numbers need to grow! you know what to do
Month 10: 0 Affirmation Ts sold; just 154 unique visitors to BWAffirmations.com ; new Facebook page 2 followers; up to 25 Instagram followers. Added a LinkedIN Page that has 15 followers.