THE GOGGINS EFFECT
Four Poems from March 2022.
Late in 2021, I discovered the former Navy SEAL and ultramarathon warrior that everyone knows as David Goggins. Make no mistake, Goggins is a bad motherfucker. He’s a mindset. His methods and approach aren’t for everyone - but that’s why he says, “do you” so that you can adjust the concepts to what works best for you. He’s intense and absolutely no nonsense.
If you haven’t read his books, I would HIGHLY recommend both, CAN’T HURT ME and NEVER FINISHED.
Just before my 53rd birthday, I did the 9/11 Stairs Challenge ( 112 Flights of stairs ) with a 20lb pack and donated to one of the firefighter charities.
At 53, I ran my first half marathon. I also got injured. less than five months later, I did the Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge - injured.
Note : For those who don’t know what the G4x4x48 - There’s two options. 1) run 4 miles every four hours for 48 hours. OR 2) one hour of exercise every four hours for 48 hours.
Eventually, a couple weeks after that ran my first marathon - injured. BUT I FINISHED.
A very small percentage of people run marathons, roughly 1.3 million people per year globally. An infinitesimal amount of the world’s population is said to have completed a marathon. I ran that fucker with a bad knee, which quit on me 16 miles in, and I still finished. Perseverance.
This isn’t me bragging. It’s me taking pride in powering through extreme difficulty in the face of adversity.
Sure, I LIMPED the last ten miles of my marathon because my left knee quit.
At mile 22, a police officer doing traffic said, “You’re limping really bad. Want me to call someone?”
My response?
“FUCK NO! I’M FINISHING THIS BITCH!”
And I did. It was ugly, but I fucking did it.
Through the power of mind and belief in yourself, anything is possible no matter the difficulty.
With all that said, I dug out my poetry from around that time. I’m trying to find THAT GUY again. The guy who will tackle any challenge and complete it by any means necessary.
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JB
WWFGD ( What Would Fucking Goggins Do? ) - I am well beyond tired All my muscles ache There's even fatigue in my brain And in every move I make But there is a hunger There's an unquenchable thirst I am my most resilient When I feel my worst I know I can power through And that I will persevere Illuminate all shadows of doubt Because I have no fear Just singular focus Believing anything is possible As I approach the end goal I know the finish line is crossable I will not be defeated I know that I will win I can already smell victory There's no chance I'm giving in When that moment arrives I'll cherish and celebrate Knowing I took my greatest challenge And fucking conquered the Goggins 4x4x48 - JB, 5MAR2K22 # TIME - Drifting through the shifting sands Hourglassing the passing time Surefire, surviving the numbing Surpassing, overcoming the climb Leaving behind the truth of youth Bitterness, not quitting this A lot of belief I've got in myself The relief of hitting and not miss The end goal, accomplishment Achieving, believing in my power My soul in control, heart ablaze Unfazed, on a roll in my finest hour Driven by the burning passion Glowing, knowing nothing's in the way Given into a dream, white hot Screaming from night into the day The energy and adrenaline The heart and soul, burning fuel I'll devastatingly conquer this life Not hesitating in a world so cruel The power in the calm The pace I run, sets my attitude In that final hour of inner peace Face the sunset with a joyful gratitude - JB, 14MAR2K22 # 26.2 ☘️ - The miles they grind out Pounding beneath my feet The voice loud inside my head Resounding, do not accept defeat I am very road weary But this road it travels on The pain of the pavement The load unravels on Eventual end in sight Power through the pain Step after painful step The miles beating out again The end it will arrive I will not succumb to defeat Each step forward is progress There will be no fucking retreat I've come with one goal in mind That is simply to finish No matter the time of completion No chance it will diminish What I achieved here today Something not many do Conquering another challenge Finishing a twenty-six point two - JB, 20MAR2K22 # THE FINISH LINE - This race that we all run It seems endless in its miles The weight of the world or so it feels Gets lost in both our tears and smiles This road that we travel Sometimes dark, both hot and cold We power on through the pain of it all Our own destiny controlled This marathon will eat you Takes your soul and breaks you down But you fight through agonizing adversity In pursuit of the legacy of your crown But this race isn't about who finishes first But rather who can outrun their past The grief, the loss, the endless failures Often left wondering about the fates you cast You must pace yourself And listen to your heart to go the distance Sometimes, you'll wander off the chosen course And stumble down the path of most resistance The pain and the agony Bring a smile knowing they make you stronger Knowing nothing in this world can defeat you You can run faster, harder, and longer You'll stumble and you will fall You'll be black and blue, bruised and bleeding But in relentless pursuit of your goal This achievement that you're needing Confirmation will be received Accomplishment achieved by design And nothing will have stopped you You'll have crossed the finish line - JB, 27MAR2K22
#poem #poetry #davidgoggins #mindset #running #marathon #life #thegrind #resilience #persistence #perseverance #neverquit #finish #achievement #pain
I LOVED can’t hurt me! I think I discovered him in ‘21 also!