She Crushed Cancer and Now has Her Eyes Set on the Leadville Trail 100 Ultra Marathon (LIVE COACHING CALL)

SPEAKER_03: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: So I I know that's a huge roadblock, is that.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

And I think though what we have to remember is that we've overcome it before.

We've overcome so much.

That we have to remember everybody listening.

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: We've all overcome it.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: We've we've done it.

SPEAKER_02: Great.

Great.

It's great.

I'm excited to welcome you.

Let's go on and how are you today?

My name is Calvin, your host, and you're joining me today for what is episode 145.

I got a question for you.

When you travel, are you the kind who just goes with the flow?

You kind of travel wherever the road takes you.

Or are you the kind who you have the GPS in front of you?

Goodness knows I'm not going to mention a map because who even uses the atlas anymore?

So we're down to two choices.

Are you the kind who just sets off with a direction, uses the compass, and says, you know what?

We're headed northeast today.

Or are you like, I need an address to plug into the GPS because I need some directions.

Well, if you're the second person that we just mentioned, the one who needs those GPS directions, then you're gonna love today's episode.

Now, if you're the other person who likes to kind of go at it on your own, free-flowing, well, that's cool for a road trip.

But what about life?

What about career choices?

Big goals that you have.

Are you cool with those to just be left up to the wind?

If you go the wrong way, ah, who cares?

We'll find a new way to go.

Or would you like some direction, some shortcuts, some direct paths that are going to take you from where you are to where you want to be?

Well, if so, then this is also for you.

Because today is not a typical interview here on the podcast.

Instead, you are actually tuning in to a live coaching call where I am working with a lady named Cynthia to create her life roadmap.

Now, what's cool about this is that this is basically going to guide her through the year to come.

At the time of this episode's release, it is January 2023.

So we have the whole year ahead of us.

And I am working with Cynthia to map out her year.

She's got some big goals, some big obstacles to overcome.

But we create a roadmap to help her do just that.

Now, what's awesome about this whole thing is that I'm inviting you to be here in the studio with me, to be in the seat where Cynthia is today.

Because this live coaching call or this design session where we are designing your life roadmap is open to you.

If you are interested, head to workwithkevin.coach.

Again, that website is workwithkevin.coach, where you can sign up and book your slot to be a guest on this podcast as we work through your life roadmap.

Is that intriguing?

I hope so.

I'm excited about it.

I'm excited for you to get to meet Cynthia as we really get to unpack what's holding her up in life, where she wants to be, where she presently is.

And at the end of the call, Cynthia is going to walk away with her own personal roadmap.

And I want to take that for you.

Cynthia's gonna check out today's show notes and you can find a link to sign up.

Or as I said, simply type in the URL.com.

With that said, I hope you enjoyed today's conversation with Cynthia.

And hey, we hopefully will see you on a future episode.

SPEAKER_00: A little backstory for me.

I am eight years, nine years in remissions.

So next year is gonna be my 10-year anniversary for getting diagnosed with cancer.

I don't think anniversary is the right word here.

Um no, that's not it.

So what happens is crush cancer started running just kind of really to get my life back, and then got really super sick again, had some life-threatening conditions in 2020, got really close to losing my life again um due to some radiation, scar tissue issues, and there was a six-month period where I barely could walk.

This was two years ago, and so coming back from that, that I don't want to call it depression or like melancholy, that was super tough.

And I just made the decision to be stronger, to create more strength in my life.

And so the last two years I've really hyper focused on helping others uh create awareness and support for those impacted with cancer as well.

So I've been running races, trail running, to support a charity called First Defense, which helps people get out and let adventure heal them after going through something like this.

So the big goal, when I was going through chemo and radiation nine years ago, I met someone who had finished the Leadville 100.

That's a hundred-mile race at 10,000 feet altitude in Leadville, Colorado, within 30 hours.

You have to finish that 100-mile run in 30 hours.

And he had just finished it, and I was super inspired.

And I looked at him and I said, if I can beat chemo, I know I'm gonna be able to finish that race.

And every day since then, that has rung true in my ears.

And so I've kind of been like, well, one day I'll run an ultra, and I just can't do it yet because I'm not strong enough, or just a lot of limited self-doubt after going through something like that, after your body fighting you life now trying to kill me.

So there's kind of like a disconnect between my my mind and my body, really.

And so this year I was raising money for my friend Chelsea, who was battling a really rare type of cancer.

And unfortunately, we lost Chelsea.

And the day we lost Chelsea, I made the decision to run the Ludwig 100 in honor of her for first event.

And after that, I signed up for my first Ultra, which was supposed to be next year, and I said, Oh, you can't do it.

And I said, you know what?

I'm just gonna try.

And so I completed that 29 mile run in the second week of November.

I'm stuck here, Kevin, with this mindset that I didn't do it.

I couldn't do that.

There's there's no way that I finished an ultra marathon.

How am I gonna go run a hundred miles?

But there's this inner passion inside of me that is so passionate about going and helping these people, and I want this so bad every single day.

I think to myself, if I could beat cancer, I could cross that finish line.

And I've beat cancer.

It's been almost 10 years.

That's gonna be my 10-year anniversary.

So I feel like the universe is conspiring to make this actually happen.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

Oh my goodness.

Well, I mean, can I just say first and foremost, I mean, what a survivor you are in every sense of the word of physically beating cancer, of emotionally beating cancer, to losing your friend to cancer.

SPEAKER_00: And yet in my family, yeah, of so many.

I actually carry a flag with me on my runs with people's names on it.

And this morning I was like, why is Kevin not on my flag?

So you're going on there today, my friend.

And that that compliment means so much coming from you because you have endured physically beating cancer and mentally beating cancer, and not even just cancer, but enduring far harder things because of cancer.

Yeah.

And thriving.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.

Well, well, well, thank you.

So so I listened to you though, and I'm sure those listening in on this call today, they're thinking, wow, I mean, this this woman is unstoppable.

So, in regards to the call we're having today, what do you feel like is is stopping you?

SPEAKER_00: Obviously, there is just like everybody listening to this podcast, we have that limited self-doubt.

That voice they say that goes off 80% of the time is negative because that's just who we are, it's huge.

So that voice, even after completing such a big race like that, says, Who are you?

You're too weak.

What an imposter.

Like, who are you to raise money and support and awareness for cancer cheering?

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, who am I?

Let me show you my resume.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.

Okay, so we we've gotten this amazing idea of of kind of this journey you've been on.

So let's look ahead.

Let's look ahead a year from now, and then I want to jump even further.

I want to jump five years ahead.

What is the I love this?

What is the goal?

A year from now, five years from now, what do you want?

SPEAKER_00: Really, success to me is living a life that inspires others to just be more curious, to push their limits, their self-inflicted limits, and realize that we really don't have a limit.

So I don't think just running this hundred mile race, like I finish, I cross the finish line on 6th Street, that's not even the end.

That's not just just I'm just crossing the starting line at that point to me.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: And how exciting.

I've literally just got a rush of nausea from the excitement.

Because then what platform do I have then to raise support and awareness and help other people that have been impacted by cancer realize there's so much life on the other side, and everyone, even if you're not impacted by cancer, everybody is going through something so so hard.

SPEAKER_03: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: And if I can show them that what they're going through is for them to be stronger in the long run, then that's success to me.

And so I don't really think there's like a when I get to this point, I will feel successful.

I love the expansion.

Yes.

So after this hundred, what if I go run the Moab 240-mile race that's five days?

SPEAKER_02: So let me ask you this.

Which which I was so glad that you already recognized that your goal is far bigger and greater than finishing that 100-mile race, it's far more meaningful than that.

So, in regards to nailing this down, because I believe that in order for us to achieve any goals, we kind of got to have that destination in mind.

You know, instead of we're just setting off to drive across country, we need to know, okay, but we want to go to this state, to this city.

And so to help you with that, I would like to ask this question.

When you've made it to this destination, how do you know that you've made it?

How do you know that you don't have to keep pushing yourself more and more?

What is life gonna look like for you?

What do you want life to look like for you?

SPEAKER_00: So again, I guess back to that expansion.

I don't know if I'll ever get to a point where I'm like, all right, I'm good.

Like I loving I love expansion, but just now what was ringing in my ears is a goal I've had my entire life.

It's a goal to raise a million dollars for charity.

So I guess if that's my five year goal, that's far more than the ten thousand just for this one race.

But then getting to a point where it's not like I don't want to be on a pedestal.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: I don't want people to say, Wow, look at Cindy doing this and that.

I want people to be inspired and be able to duplicate it.

SPEAKER_01: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: So once there is this duplication of I mean, I already have friends calling me, Cindy, I signed up for a marathon.

And what do you think about me starting to trail run?

And I'm like, Yes, please go and inspire the people around you.

Go be strong, go be the strongest youth.

So that's really hard to answer that.

Like Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: No, no, I I understand.

I understand exactly where you're coming from.

I understand what you're saying, and and and I love this, and I love this.

And so I guess kind of my next set of questions are let's try and get clear as far as coming up with this roadmap.

Let's look big picture first.

What are three things that have to happen for you to reach this goal?

To be living in this type of life, this mindset that we're talking about.

What are three of the biggest things that have to happen?

SPEAKER_00: Well, I think just like with anyone that has a big goal, the most important is mastering those thoughts, the negative self-talk, and cognitively stretching that muscle until you're able to, within a snap, shift those thoughts to positive.

Hey, listen, I can do this.

I did run culture.

I am powerful, I can inspire others with what I'm doing right now.

SPEAKER_02: Let me stop you real quick.

With all that you have overcome, why do you feel like you keep turning back to the negative self-talk?

SPEAKER_00: I think it's human nature.

Especially for I mean, I've worked on being positive for decades.

I've always put intention into that, and it still is a constant for me.

And I feel like that you can either take that negative self-talk and let it drag you toward you down, or cognitively shift it.

Ask it questions.

Is this true?

What do you want here?

What is the purpose of this?

So I feel like me asking those questions more and more when those negative thoughts come through have made it quicker for me to shift into a more positive mindset.

And you know what?

Sometimes I don't I don't feel like that positive mindset.

Yesterday, for example, I didn't want to go for a run.

I didn't feel good.

I wasn't talking to myself positively.

I never was able to shift into that, but I just went out and did it.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: I just wore my shoes on and went.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: Because that voice doesn't have control of me at the end of the day.

It's the roadmap, right?

Like having that in goal is so powerful.

And my little buddy, Witten John, who's two years old, went through his 26th round of chemo this week and is a huge strong fighter, slapped his shirt on and it was over.

I mean, I couldn't make another excuse as to why I didn't want to go out.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

So wow, wow, wow.

Okay.

So first and first and foremost, my thought process is maybe I need to have some homework.

Maybe I need to every single morning when I wake up send you a text message that is a reminder.

Cynthia, you are a total badass.

You got this, you've done it, you've overcome.

Stop thinking negatively.

Get out there.

You're already, you're already doing what you need to do.

And the fact of you just told us you didn't feel like it.

Yet you put on your shoes and you went for the run.

I mean, you are doing it.

Matter of fact, I believe, I mean, you're way more ahead of the game than you even think you are.

Well, thank you.

You know, and and and I feel like for you, you just need that reminder more and more that I can, I will, I'm going to, and nothing will stop me.

SPEAKER_00: And I just had a huge epiphany.

SPEAKER_02: Okay.

SPEAKER_00: Are you ready?

SPEAKER_02: I'm ready.

SPEAKER_00: So this goes back to, and it's not just me, I know a lot of your listeners are gonna feel this how we were treated when we were raised.

Not all of us had the best upbringing, the most loving, affirming, affirming, pardon me, affirming parent.

We didn't have that as a child.

So this year was the year that I started to self-love and like believe in myself, and that was most important for me was to not search for that affirmation from someone else, but know that I have it inside of me.

Like I can affirm myself, and that's the most important for me.

And that shifted this year huge versus looking for external affirmation because we never got it as children.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: That's powerful.

SPEAKER_00: Sorry, mom.

SPEAKER_02: That's powerful.

No, that no, I mean, and and I think you are so right in the fact that I think a lot of people can resonate with that.

So, okay, I believe we've got in in regards to this roadmap, we're we're trying to nail down our directions.

Continuing on with this mission that you're on of showing yourself love, of cheering yourself on, being your own cheerleader.

I believe you're doing that.

I believe you're doing that, and I want you to keep doing that.

So now let me ask you what's another thing that's gonna have to happen, though?

SPEAKER_00: It's that disciplines.

SPEAKER_02: Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00: Isn't that the hardest thing, listeners?

SPEAKER_02: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: How many of you have challenges with discipline?

One or two.

SPEAKER_02: Yep, yep, yep.

So so being disciplined how?

SPEAKER_00: Uh time management would be the most important for me.

Procrastination.

So I didn't want to use negative words.

I wanted to use more positive words.

So instead of I don't want to procrastinate, yes.

I want to be disciplined.

SPEAKER_03: Yes.

Okay.

SPEAKER_00: I want to just take that action.

So yesterday, going out and doing that run was sharpening, strengthening my sword of discipline.

SPEAKER_02: So, which yeah, I agree 100%.

So, so talk to me again about achieving this goal.

So big time.

What does being disciplined in this realm, what does that equate to?

Does that equate to you getting up and going for a run every day?

Does that equate to you getting faster every week?

Like, like look at it like in that type of tangible take action type idea.

SPEAKER_00: So my goal for December, I have 15 to 20 minutes a day where I am stretching.

And then three days a week I'm doing strength training.

And then a minimum of three running days.

I'm just coming out of an ultra marathon.

So I'm at the bottom of my training.

So I don't want to be pushing myself and burning myself out right now.

Of course.

But my goal for December was 75%.

I have to do this every single day.

And I cannot mess up one training.

It was here's what I want to do.

My goal is to do at least 75% of that.

And what where that came from is because my kid hasn't been doing so great coming back from homeschooling.

And so we implemented this not 4.0, not perfect, but 3.0 attitude.

Where she's just trying a little bit harder every day.

It's like that 1% that you hear about.

Just a 1% every day.

So we were all right, do you have your 3.0 attitude?

Is that 3.0 attitude?

And it hit me last week and I when I was writing my goals, and I said, Why don't I try for a 3.0 instead of perfect?

And I was like, Well, what is 3.0 out of 100%?

75.

So that's I said, if if I'm doing that for my kid, then I should not be hypocritical and do the same thing in my life, you know?

Like, hey, let's let's be 3.0 together.

SPEAKER_02: Yes.

Yeah, no, I love that.

One, oh my goodness, that is absolutely amazing.

Yeah.

Okay, so so we got number one.

We got number two.

What's number three?

What's the third thing?

SPEAKER_00: It's procrastination.

I know I married that in with the discipline.

SPEAKER_02: Okay.

SPEAKER_00: But procrastinating.

SPEAKER_02: So what are you procrastinating on?

Everything.

Everything.

Everything.

Oh, so let's okay.

So why don't we think okay, so let we're gonna group procrastination in with discipline.

Okay.

Okay.

So let's get past that.

Okay, because we got that nailed down.

Okay.

SPEAKER_00: That's discipline and the first.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah, what something else?

Even just think think kind of out of your head, out of to think to yourself, to get to the life that you literally will be like, this is my dream life.

I am doing everything I've ever wanted to do.

What else do you feel like needs to happen for that to be your reality?

Think big.

You know, I'm, you know, I want you to think real big outside of the realm.

Would it be starting your own, you know, charitable organization?

Is it, I don't know, being, you know, coming in first place on whatever type of ultra crazy marathon that you run?

Is it, you know, being able to raise a certain dollar amount for this specific charity?

Something like that is what I'm I'm kind of getting at.

SPEAKER_00: Well, what is coming to mind, not necessarily starting my own charity.

I did have my own charity before I went through cancer called climbing towards a cure.

SPEAKER_01: Okay.

SPEAKER_00: And we would hike 14ers for different charities.

Yes.

But what's big that's coming out right now of me is not starting a charity per se, but maybe a group of survivors.

SPEAKER_03: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: And not just cancer.

SPEAKER_03: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: What if it's domestic abuse?

What if it's MS, you know?

Um and I know there's not a cure for that, but that doesn't mean that they can't go live their life adventurously with that.

SPEAKER_01: Exactly.

SPEAKER_00: I mean, the person who just won the Havelena hundred mile race had lupus.

SPEAKER_01: Wow.

SPEAKER_00: That's inspiring.

Yeah.

So I think getting people to get like that goes right along with the big goal of mine to inspire others to go inspire and duplicate this inspiration of living your life to the fullest no matter what has happened to you, you have your back.

I think a group of survivor to thrivers would be amazing.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

Oh my goodness.

I agree 110% on that one.

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00: Like Kevin, what if you ran a 5K and you had no excuses?

SPEAKER_02: I'm kind of of the mindset that if something's not trying to eat me, why run?

SPEAKER_00: But I love you.

That's a huge thing, too.

I'm not trying to make everybody go run.

If you love running, go run.

Go do what you love.

It doesn't have to be running.

Just get outside of your limits.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00: I actually, Kevin, you're gonna love this.

I was a guide for, I'm not sure how to say this correctly, but she was visually impaired.

She hiked the 14er with us and she made it to the summit.

I was one of her guides that went the whole way.

And the whole time as we were hiking, I was describing in words, almost like a story, what everything looked like around us.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: But she did it.

Like she climbed up 14,000 feet without being able to see.

Yep.

It was remarkable, life-changing.

SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes.

That is so incredible.

Oh my goodness.

I love it.

SPEAKER_00: So again, we only have the limits that we put on ourselves.

SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.

I agree.

I agree.

Okay, so we we have these ideas, kind of our checkpoints along the way of this journey that you're, you know, on in life.

I would love to ask you this though.

Along this journey, I feel as though things propel us forward that we want, but there's also things that propel us forward that we don't want.

And so I would ask you, what is it along this journey that you truly want to avoid?

What fear do you have that could be stopping you or that is more or less propelling you forward?

SPEAKER_00: Getting sick.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: I hate to say that out loud.

Like I pretend that I'm not scared of it.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: But injury and illness.

SPEAKER_03: Yeah.

I get that.

SPEAKER_00: But that being said, to learn to move through that and with it and realize it's just part of a roller coaster.

Like I said, I couldn't walk two years ago two miles without being in intense pain for the week.

And now it's like it's okay just be where you are in the journey.

Yeah.

And it it's okay if I get sick or an illness or hurt my ankle.

Because I did this year.

I was out for six weeks in the middle of summer, and I was like, my life is ruined.

I'm never gonna run again.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: Like Cindy, be where you are, just be there.

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: So I I know that's a huge roadblock, is that yeah.

SPEAKER_02: And I think though, what we have to remember is that we've overcome it before.

We've overcome so much that we have to remember everybody listening.

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: We've all overcome it.

SPEAKER_02: Yes.

SPEAKER_00: It we've we've done it.

SPEAKER_02: Yes.

Absolutely.

And you know, and and so what what you answered to that question was exactly, I feel like, the question that any of us who have ever had any type of of physical or mental challenges in our life is that fear that what if it returns?

What if I get sick again?

You know, but as we said, we just have to draw back on what we've already overcome, the experiences that you've gained, that you've gotten stronger.

You're you're a much stronger, more resilient, amazing woman today than you were 10 years ago.

SPEAKER_00: Without question, your answer has made me way stronger.

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

So I look at this and I think to myself, wow, you got some, you got some work to do.

You got, you got, but that's what's exciting, is I believe that in this life, in order for us to to move on to that next chapter in life, you know, if if we think of our life as a book of chapters, we have to be willing to not only put in the work, but also to be brave enough to put ourselves out there to turn the page, to enter something that's unknown, that's scary, in order for us to keep achieving more and more and ultimately getting to that destination that we're fighting

for.

SPEAKER_00: I like what you just said there about doing things that are scary, because that scary chemical in the brain is the exact same chemical that shoots off excitement.

So we really get to choose in that moment of fear and complete terror, are we scared or are we excited?

SPEAKER_02: Yeah.

Well, well, listen, I have one last question for you.

And that is when we get off the call today, what is one thing that you can commit to taking action on that is gonna move you closer to this end destination?

Just one thing.

It can be little, it can be big, but one thing that you can tell me without a doubt that within I'm gonna give you, I'm gonna give you a week that you can start to take action on.

SPEAKER_00: Okay.

I have a huge thing actually that I haven't taken action on for months.

And it's the who am I effect that's happening here.

SPEAKER_01: Okay.

SPEAKER_00: My Leadville 100 fundraiser for first assent.

I still haven't launched it because I have that who am I to raise money for charity effect happening.

So that'll be it.

That'll be it.

I will launch that officially within a week.

Okay.

It's been on my to-do list for literally at least eight weeks.

SPEAKER_02: Fantastic.

Well, good.

Well, I'm gonna be checking in on you.

So you remember I'm I'm I'm texting you with with with reminders of how absolutely incredibly awesome you are.

And then I'm also being checking in on with you and uh being like, uh, what's going on?

How's that that uh task list coming along?

SPEAKER_00: So I feel a little rumble happening underneath the volcano right now.

I can't wait to see where we are in a year.

SPEAKER_02: Exactly, exactly.

Well, well, listen, I first and foremost, talking about doing things that are scary, that are unknown, you getting on the call today, being willing to have this call, to put yourself out there to the world on the podcast.

I want to congratulate you for that.

And I also want to just simply applaud you for not just surviving in this life, but for truly thriving each and every day.

And you are truly a ray of sunshine.

And, you know, God puts people, you know, I believe God puts people in our lives for a reason.

And I believe the two of us met years ago for a reason.

And, you know, to build strength, to to have strength kind of radiate off of one another.

And I'm so glad that here on this podcast today, through our call today, that we could share some of your just amazing sunshiny, radiating energy to the world.

So, so again, thank you for being a part of it.

SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much, Kevin.

And thank you for having me.

I am so grateful for you, and I'm so grateful for our friendship.

And everyone, get on the email and sign up for one of these calls and get ready to explode.

SPEAKER_02: Awesome, awesome, fantastic.

Well, thank you.

And for you again, as you just heard, get on one of these calls, head on over to work with Kevin.coach.

Just go to workwithkevin.coach where you can sign up for your very own life roadmap discovery call.

It's completely free, no obligation, no sales pitch at the end.

It's just literally you and me sitting down talking about life and figuring out some steps you can take to get you from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow.

With that, I am Kevin Lowell, and this is Grit Greats and Inspiration.

Have an incredible day.

I of course hope that you've enjoyed today's episode, but more importantly, I want to remind you that I never want you to listen to the episode of this podcast to something that I have to say or that my dad has to care.

Wow.

I wish I could I wish I could overcome my own couches.

I just want to archable.

And so I could stuff never mind yourself.

You know what?

I can do it.

Of course it's like out of the way.