Believe to Achieve For ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes, impossible is just another goal

In 2006, I set the goal of completing 50 marathons, in all 50 states, in 50 straight days. Many said it would be impossible, that it couldn’t be done. But I didn’t let that stop me from trying.

After the 50th day of running, I completed the final event of the series—the NYC Marathon—with a personal record time, finishing the race in three hours flat. Contrary to what the naysayers had predicted, my body hadn’t broken down over time. Quite the contrary, it had grown stronger.

With that goal accomplished, I set future goals: of running across the five great deserts of the planet—Atacama, Gobi, Sahara, Death Valley, Antarctica—of running across the Rocky Mountains, of running 3,000 miles across America from Los Angeles to New York, to mention a few that I have since completed.

Having goals in front of us is a powerful motivator to push us to continue reaching for the stars. Unless you seek bigger and more audacious goals for the future, how else will you ever know how far you can go?

So, just how does one go about setting lofty goals? If you can dream it, you can do it, I like to say. What dreams and aspirations do you have? I call these, “stretch goals.” What future ambitions push you further than you’ve ever gone before? Stepping into uncharted territory can be terrifying, but don’t allow that hold you back. Fear of failure has dashed away many dreams; don’t let it stop you from realizing yours. Dare boldly. Take risks. Fail often. But learn from these failures and grow stronger because of them.

What outrageous future goal have I set for myself? Beginning in 2015, I’m planning on embarking on a global tour to complete a marathon in every country of the world in one year. There are 204 countries on planet earth and my intention is to run a marathon in each and every one of them in the span of a single spin of the globe. I’m working with the UN and the State Department to make this dream a reality.

This global marathon endeavor was originally scheduled for 2013, then 2014. There have been numerous setbacks and hurdles blocking my way. Life is a series of roadblocks and obstacle; living is overcoming them.

If there’s one thing we athletes know how to do, it’s live. We are masters of perseverance and endurance, unwilling to give up no matter how dire the situation appears. May you use this same dog-headed persistence to get you across the furthest finish line.