You Don’t Rise to the Occasion

Every athlete I coach creates an adversity plan.

Before race day. Before a big challenge. Before the trail gets tough.

Why?

Because when the pain hits—when you're cramping at mile 18 or struggling up that last climb—you need more than motivation.

You need a plan.

An adversity plan is a list of 10–20 challenges you might face and how you’ll respond to each one.

When things go sideways, it becomes your map.

Most people hope they’ll “dig deep” when it matters. That’s a gamble.

Pros train for adversity on purpose.