You know the feeling? The feeling when you have given everything you have and it still isn’t good enough? I know I’m not the only person who grew up not believing in myself and I know I’m not the only person who goes through life, every single day, with this same fear that no matter what I do, it still isn’t good enough… When I trained for Leadville this year, I thought I gave her everything I had. As I started getting better and building… As I started doing more and more… As the summer progressed and I thought I was giving every last bit of energy away… in the end, I still wasn’t good enough… Turns out missing the…
What’s best for YOU?
Things I was told I couldn’t do… Elementary School teacher told me my story for the “Young Authors” project was too unbelievable (it was a story about a basketball team who scored a lot of points and did extraordinary things) and maybe writing wasn’t for me. My blog about extraordinary personal, physical, mental, athletic, business changes and accomplishments reaches thousands of people and the encouragement from others to write a full non fiction book about my story and journey of extraordinary human and athletic achievement is stronger than ever. High school counselor told my I wasn’t smart enough for college and I should join the Army. Graduated with my Bachelor Degree December 2008. Tried to join the Army after September…
Watching. Waiting. Wondering…
Watching. Waiting. Wondering… It is not the unknown that scares me most today… I stepped on the plane in Seattle and I couldn’t help but wonder what is about to come… I’ve become a custom to this feeling, having more and more of these “unknown” experiences. I keep waiting and wishing for a hint or a clue… hoping to see just one ounce as to what is to come, seeing what lies in my path… I have felt lost for so long, seeming to have no path or direction. I have felt as though something is coming but not knowing what is about to happen, I feel my body floating along wishing the wind would guide me along all the…
Speaking at Muscles in Motion
My Alaska speaking trip has been nothing short of awesome! I was lucky to have some help recording couple of my talks. I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Perfection is B.S…
Just because I have a cool before and after photo doesn’t mean I’m perfect… I’ve lost 200 pounds. I’ve run 100 miles. I miss workouts/runs sometimes. I eat the wrong foods sometimes. I over eat sometimes. I have no magic diet that will claim to solve all your health problems or suddenly take away your emotional eating cues. I’m not a superhero with a supernatural willpower to stay out of the kitchen or get out the door to workout. I don’t have a product that will melt away fat from your body… My only secret to success is learning how to take the next step after I want to quit. I started my fitness and health journey five and a…
Leadville Recap- Lost and broken… leaving Outward Bound…
I didn’t even care I had 25 miles left. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to drink. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die with shame and embarrassment. I worked so hard for so long working toward my goals. I am so strong physically but, yet I am still not good enough. I have worked so hard cleaning up all my mistakes, yet they still haunt my conscience. I have worked so hard to make myself mentally strong but I’m still so immature. I have been patiently persistent with every aspect of my life and knowing I failed myself devastated me beyond control…… Part One Part Two Lost and broken… leaving Outward Bound I can’t…
Leadville Recap (Part 2 of ??)
Leadville Recap Part One Mary gave me a few words of encouragement. Brad told me not to let Hope break me. I leaned in, looked Mary directly in the eyes and whispered a special quote, she whispered a polite request back to me and I was on my way. Hope I have known my strategy for Hope Pass for a year. After my dumb move last year, sprinting up the mountain, I knew this year required a much more thought out plan. My only goal for the entire section of Hope Pass? Just Keep Moving Forward. Under no circumstances was I allowed to stop for any reason, so I didn’t. I took one step after another. I watched people pass…
Leadville 100 Recap (Part 1 of ??)
Is it Hope or is it Hopeless? “There’s a place called Hope where your attitude determines your day. When you look for the beauty in the climb your heart and mind fill with Hope. But climb her with fear and your heart and mind will become Hopeless. I climbed a mountain to find Hope… and that’s where I found you.” I have decompressed the last couple days and except for a couple thoughts here and there… I remain numb. I sit here today, and I can’t seem to wrap my head around what has happened the last week, the last year, the last five years… I want to write. I want to tell my story…. So why do I sit…
Coming back from Failure
It’s been a long road back to the starting line… Here is my recap with Rob from Training for Ultra Podcast. I hope you enjoy! (I am writing one out in more detail and I will likely publish it here when it is finished.) Thank you all so very much for your encouragement, support, and following along on the journey. I am so excited about what the future holds and I can’t wait to share it all with you as it unfolds! Best Day Yet, Gary Stotler
In the pursuit of not dying, I found a life worth living.
You don’t have to worry anymore, it’s ok, I’m gone now. Today is the end of a chapter I need to close… I must learn to say goodbye. I cannot erase the stories of the past for they live in my heart and my mind. The wrinkles on my face will share the pleasure and the pain… and with every look in the mirror I will be reminded of the smiles and the tears of my past. The trail has been long and dark. I have seen many peaks and many valleys. My path has been filled with wrong turns and new directions. With every step forward, I have found a new direction and as I step on the trails…