It’s supposed to be the easy day.

No alarm. No watch beeping at you. No pain cave, no elevation gain. Just... rest. But instead of feeling relief, your brain is loud. Restless. Crawling with what-ifs and should-haves.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not broken. You’re just an athlete with a very human brain, one that’s learned to equate movement with worth, control, and stability.

This past weekend I ran the Colorado Marathon. I’m not quite sure how many times I’ve run this race, I think maybe seven. I don’t keep many results of the times, maybe a I should, but I just like the memories and getting out there and running.

Optimism is the belief that challenges can be faced, that things can get better, and that we have the capacity to grow, adapt, or find meaning, even when things are hard. It’s not about ignoring pain or fear, but about holding onto hope while making space for reality. Optimism is key ingredient in building resilience – that and emotional regulation and a supportive environment.

There it is.

It’s about holding on to hope…