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A few weeks ago Eliud Kipchoge set a world record in Vienna, something never accomplished in human history. He ran a marathon distance (26.2 miles) in under 2 hours, that’s 13.1 miles per hour. Most distance runners or sprinters can hold that speed for a minute or two, certainly not 2 hours straight.
In terms of average marathon times, the median marathon finishing time in 2016 for men in U.S. marathons was 4:22:07 (that's 9:59 minutes / mile pace), according to Running USA. So he ran less than 1/2 the time it took for an average marathon runner. Such an amazing display of physical & mental toughness. Let’s look at the chart below, the "median" (average) is 4:22:07 marked at the top of the peak. He ran faster than half the average time.
Experts said it wasn't physically possible ... that is until someone does the impossible. Come again? How can it be impossible if someone accomplishes it? Were they really experts if they were wrong? Really? We need to adjust our mindset and improve our terminology, how about “very difficult” but not “impossible”. This also illustrates the need to be mindful of who we listen to. You know what I’m talking about, the naysayers, the people that say you can’t do it. The people that say you aren’t equipped to be successful, you don’t have the right pedigree, the right connections. The morning before the record shattering event, he tells his team, “it’s not about competing, it’s not about anything else, it’s about making history, it’s about changing the way human beings think”. He tells them, “Only the disciplined ones are free in life. If you are undisciplined, you are a slave to your moods.”
What does this have to do with stock trading? Nothing and everything. Your Mindset! Humans are capable of far more than we thought possible. Put yourself in his shoes for a minute. If they put his head on your body, what could you accomplish in life? What kind of mindset does he posses? He certainly has grit! GRIT is the ability to continue despite building pressure to stop. Years of preparation and training led to this moment, this chance to do what he does best. What about you -- do you fill your mind with “limiting” or “limitless” beliefs? Do you put limits on what you can accomplish. The choice is yours!!
NOTE: Officially, his accomplishments weren’t recorded as an official world record because it wasn’t done under open marathon conditions, it was completed during the Vienna “INEOS 1:59 Challenge”, an event designed to break that sub 2 hour marathon -- a carefully controlled environment. The weather, the course, the rotating pacesetters, the arrowhead formation, his custom designed Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite shoes, the ground laser pace car all contributed to this record. Regardless, unless he had jet engines in his shoes, it’s still an amazing accomplishment and reminder of the human spirit.