Relentless IQ → #20 [2026] → Hard things don’t last forever.
Relentless IQ is your weekly dose of mental + physical performance.
Insight
This past weekend I did VTMonster - an 80 mile gravel bike ride with almost 10,000 feet of climbing. Basically just climbing Stratton and the surrounding mountains over and over again.
It was in the 30s and raining the entire time. I was so cold I couldn’t feel my hands. My whole body had this deep chill that made everything tighten up and seize. Which is not exactly ideal when you’re bombing down Vermont back roads at almost 40 miles an hour trying to squeeze brakes you can barely feel.
At the halfway aid station I seriously thought about quitting. It felt like I was never going to warm up. The climbing was never going to stop. The ride was never going to end.
And honestly, the thought of getting a ride back and sitting by the fire at Stratton Lodge sounded pretty incredible.
But instead I had some warm broth, drank some fluids, and reset my mind.
I reminded myself that this discomfort isn’t going to last forever. That I can do hard things. And to just keep moving.
So I got back on the bike. And rode on. And on. And on.
The last five miles were basically one long climb back up Stratton Mountain. It hurt so bad and felt like it would never end.
But then it did. Just like that, I was at the top. I made it through the hard. I made it to the end. And now I have another experience, another story, another reminder that I’m capable of more than I think.
That’s the thing about hard moments- when you’re in them, they can feel endless.
But they aren’t. You keep moving. You keep believing. You work through it. You stay relentless.
And usually on the other side you realize you’re stronger and more resilient because of it.
Question
What hard thing in your life do you need to keep moving through right now?
Quote
“When you’re going through hell, keep going.” - Winston Churchill
Workout
1600m Air Runner (or Treadmill)
*EMOM 5 Burpee Box Jump Overs
Coach’s Notes:
Sub run for 5000m row (or other cardio of choice that is similar duration to 1 mile run)
So we’re clear… every minute on the minute, stop the cardio and do 5 burpee box jump overs. HOWEVER, if this gets out of hand (ie you are not making any progress on the run), scale back the number of burpees or switch to every 2:00 stop and do burpees.
It will end eventually, you just have to keep moving.
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