Heber Valley Life

Author: Ben Light

Consistency Is King

Spring has a way of flipping a switch.

The days get longer. Snow recedes. Trails and roads reappear. The idea of running—starting fresh, building momentum, getting fit again—suddenly feels possible.

And for many people, that’s exactly where things begin…and end.

They don’t fail because they lack motivation.

They don’t fail because they lack toughness.

They don’t fail because they don’t want it badly enough.

They fail because they misunderstand what actually creates progress.

At Adventure Your Potential, consistency is the second core attribute for a reason. It doesn’t look impressive on the surface, but it is the single most reliable driver of physical adaptation, mental confidence, and long-term success.

Consistency is King.

Not perfection. Not intensity. Not the occasional heroic workout. Progress comes from repeated, manageable effort over time—long enough for the body and mind to adapt.

The Body Adapts to What It Repeatedly Experiences.

When people begin running, they often assume their lungs or muscles will be the limiting factor. Sometimes that’s true. More often, the limiting factor is the connective tissue: tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints.

Muscles adapt quickly. Connective tissue does not.

These structures need consistent exposure to load in order to strengthen. When stress is applied regularly and within manageable limits, the body adapts quietly and effectively. When stress is random—too hard one day, nonexistent the next—adaptation stalls, and injury risk increases.

Consistency teaches the body what “normal” feels like.

Short, easy runs done frequently allow the body to learn how to tolerate impact, fatigue, and recovery. One great run followed by long gaps of rest teaches the body nothing.

This is why consistency matters more than pace, speed, or distance when starting out. Your goal isn’t to prove anything—it’s to teach your body what it’s being asked to do.

Start Short. Start Easy. Start Often.

One of the most common mistakes new runners make is believing every run needs to feel meaningful—long, fast, or exhausting.

It doesn’t.

Early progress is built on short, easy runs done frequently. Short runs minimize recovery cost. Easy efforts reduce injury risk. Frequent exposure builds routine and resilience. Together, they create momentum without overwhelming the body or the schedule.

A runner who jogs for 15–25 minutes most days of the week will build more durable fitness than someone who runs hard once or twice per week and spends the rest of the time recovering—or restarting.

This approach isn’t cautious. It’s intentional.

Consistency turns running from an event into a habit. And habits, not motivation, are what carry people forward.

Volume Is More Than Mileage.

Another common pitfall is focusing exclusively on mileage. Distance has value, but it doesn’t tell the whole story—especially in mountain environments.

Training volume is total stress, not just miles.

Trail terrain, uneven footing, elevation gain and loss, weather, and altitude all increase the cost of a run. Add strength training into the mix, and overall fatigue rises quickly.

Strength training is beneficial, but it is also about volume.

Heavy lifting places stress on the same tissues used in running. When planned intelligently, it supports durability and performance. When ignored as part of the total workload, it quietly contributes to overload.

This is why many runners benefit from thinking in terms of time rather than distance, particularly on trails. Time accounts for terrain, effort, and environment. It provides a clearer picture of how much work the body is actually doing.

Consistency isn’t just about how often you run—it’s about managing total load so you can keep showing up.

Gear Matters—But It Shouldn’t Stop You From Starting.

Gear plays an important role in running, but it should never be a prerequisite for beginning.

Too many people delay action while waiting for the “right” setup. The result is hesitation instead of adaptation.

Start with what you have. Let consistency reveal what you need.

As training becomes routine, friction points emerge naturally—discomfort, blisters, overheating, or lack of data. Those signals guide smart gear improvements.

Shoes deserve priority. Proper footwear—matched to foot width, arch structure, and preferred drop—can significantly affect comfort, mechanics, and injury risk. Shoes influence how force moves through the body, and dialing them in matters.

Beyond shoes, socks help reduce blister risk. Apparel should regulate temperature and breathe well. A watch can help track time, distance, and effort. Heart rate monitoring can offer insight into training load and recovery.

But none of these tools replace the most important factor: getting out the door consistently.

Gear supports training. It does not create it.

Nutrition Supports the Process—It Doesn’t Start It.

Nutrition is critical to performance, recovery, and overall health—but like gear, it shouldn’t feel overwhelming or prevent someone from starting.

Training reveals nutritional needs.

As consistency improves, the body provides feedback: changes in hunger, energy levels, recovery, and
performance. That’s when nutrition strategy becomes meaningful.

Most runners benefit from thinking about fueling in three phases: pre-training, during training, and post-training.

Pre-run nutrition varies widely. Some people perform well fasted. Others feel better with a light carbohydrate-based snack. There is no universal solution—only what works for the individual.

During longer efforts, easily digestible carbohydrates and electrolytes help sustain energy and hydration.

After training, moderate whole carbohydrates paired with protein support muscle repair and replenish glycogen stores.

These strategies matter—but they matter most once consistency is established. Without regular training, nutrition remains theoretical.

Consistency Builds Confidence.

Within the Adventure Your Potential framework, consistency reinforces attitude.

Each time you complete a planned run, you reinforce self-trust. Over time, doubt fades and confidence grows.

Small, manageable increases in volume reduce overwhelm and reinforce momentum. Large, rushed increases create pressure and risk breakdown.

Consistency removes fragility.

Play the Long Game.

Spring isn’t the season to rush. It’s the season to build.

Running rewards patience. It rewards those who respect adaptation timelines and understand that progress is built quietly, one consistent effort at a time.

If there’s one takeaway, let it be this:

Start small. Keep it manageable. Show up often. Let your body adapt. Let confidence grow. Gear and nutrition will evolve as your training demands it.

Adventure doesn’t come from doing everything at once.

It comes from committing to the process long enough to discover what you’re capable of.

A Final Word.

If you’re unsure how to structure your training or manage workload, guidance matters. As a professional athlete, elite coach, and private personal trainer, I help individuals train smarter, stay durable, and progress with purpose.

If you’re ready to invest in a consistent, long-term approach to fitness, I encourage you to reach out and start the conversation.

@adventure.your.potential

adventureyourpotential.com
March 6, 2026
Body Mind Connection

As the winter snows settle across Heber Valley and our days turn crisp, shorter, and more introspective, it’s the perfect season to reflect on the deeper connections between physical training and our mental and emotional health. Over the past two+ years writing for Heber Valley Life Magazine, you’ve heard me talk about trail running, ultra events, fitness, personal training, and the grit it takes to push limits. But this season I want to go one level deeper: how the discipline required to train your body, in fact, becomes a training ground for your mind and emotions.

As a professional endurance athlete (ultra runner), a coach, and an elite personal trainer based here in the valley, I’ve seen it in my own life and in the lives of my clients: when we consistently train our physical bodies, something shifts in how we handle stress, setbacks, emotions, and life’s inevitable challenges. I live by four core attributes that I believe anchor this whole process: attitude, consistency, effort, and patience. In this article, I’ll share how each of these plays out not just in physical training, but in mental and emotional resilience.

Attitude: The Starting Point

Physical training begins long before you lace up the shoes or strap on the watch. It begins with belief: belief you can set a goal, belief you can chase it, belief you’re worthy of the process. I encourage my clients to adopt a positive and proactive attitude. This isn’t naïve optimism, it’s realistic confidence. In ultra running, there are long hours, dark moments, hills you didn’t expect, and weather you didn’t anticipate. The same is true in life: emotional storms, work stress, family demands, and mental fatigue. A positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality; it means believing you can engage with reality, you can train through it, and you can adapt.

When you train your body with the mindset: “I may be tired, but I can move. I may feel doubt, but I can step forward.” You build neurological and emotional patterns of resilience. You’re not just building muscles and cardiovascular fitness; you’re building confidence in yourself and in your capacity to handle more. That translates to mental and emotional health: you start believing that you can handle not just the training session, but life’s difficult bouts.

Consistency: The Power of Routine

“Consistency is king,” I say this to every athlete I coach and every client I train. Why? Because our bodies—and our minds—evolve toward their primary environment. If you show up day after day, week after week, the body adapts. It becomes stronger, more efficient, more resilient. But, and this is key, so does your mind. You are telling your brain, your nervous system: this is what we do. We move. We recover. We prepare. We adapt.

From an emotional health standpoint, consistency gives structure and predictability in a world of change. It gives your mental state a foundation: “I show up.” When emotions run high, when stress mounts, when life throws something unexpected—that consistent routine becomes an anchor. In my own ultra running career, the days of consistency are the ones where, mentally, I felt the strongest. When I skipped too many sessions or was erratic, the mind started to roam: doubt, worry, fear. However, the body still craved structure, and the mind craved that same pattern.

Effort: Turning Consistency into Growth

Consistency is the baseline—but effort is the catalyst. If you merely show up but do nothing, you may preserve fitness, you may maintain the status quo, but you won’t transform. In the world of endurance athletics, as in life, you must push beyond your comfort zone. You must structure training to challenge your current strengths. You must invite discomfort so adaptation can occur.

In doing so, you build not only physical strength, but emotional and mental grit. You learn to lean into discomfort. You learn to trust your process. You encounter adversity in training: flat runs, long climbs, fatigue, injury risk, and you learn that your mind and emotions don’t have to collapse. You show up, you steer your body, you move forward. That carries into daily life: you’ll face setbacks, stressors, long work days, and family strains. If your training has already primed you to tolerate fatigue, to embrace effort, to lean when it gets tough—you are more emotionally stable, more mentally prepared, more grounded.

Patience: The Often‐Overlooked Attribute

Here’s where many people stall—not for lack of desire, not for lack of show up, but for impatience. In our instant everything world, we want fast results. We want the body change, the mental calm, the emotional resilience—yesterday. But training, physical, mental, and emotional, is a long game. And patience is the linchpin.

As a coach, I often say, “Patience is the asset; impatience is the liability.” Because when you get impatient, you cut corners, skip parts of the process, overdo, under recover, compare yourself unfairly, and abandon training. Physically, you may wreck yourself or burn out. Mentally and emotionally, you may spiral into feelings of frustration, guilt, shame, and comparison. Meanwhile, the consistent effort you had built begins to erode. The emotional benefits you might have harvested begin to fade.

A Call to ACTION

If you’re reading this, I invite you to see your physical training not just as body work but as mind and emotional work. You don’t have to be an ultra‐runner or an elite athlete to benefit. It might be three consistent workouts a week, it might be strength work plus trail time, or it might simply be moving outside despite the cold. What matters is attitude, consistency, effort, and patience.

If you find your mind racing, emotions tangled, stress mounting—try shifting the lens: what if the fastest route through this emotional terrain is physical motion? What if your bike ride, your run, your snow shoe walk is a training session for your emotional resilience? It is. Because when you train your body, your brain, your nervous system, and your emotional self, everything works together and moves along. You build strength for life, not just for sport.

This winter, let the valley’s white stillness be your invitation—not just to train your legs, but to train your mind and heart. Let your physical routine become your emotional anchor. Build your strength—not just in the muscles you can see, but in the quiet confidence, the mental clarity, and the emotional steadiness that comes from commitment.

Here’s to the process. Here’s to the journey. Here’s to training body, mind, and heart together. And if you want the help of a professional fitness trainer and coach, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. I would be honored to support you through the process of reaching your life’s fitness goals.

More info:

@adventure.your.potential

adventureyourpotential.com
December 12, 2025
A Goal-Driven Mindset Starts with Attitude

What is the biggest determining factor in whether or not you achieve your goals? If you guessed attitude, you’re absolutely right.

As a fitness coach who specializes in transforming “everyday” people into athletes who complete extraordinary goals and challenges, I can without a doubt say that a positive attitude is that extra gear that drives them to the finish line—and beyond. This is why ATTITUDE is the first of the four important attributes I teach my clients.

As a coach, I don’t just talk the talk; I walk the walk—in 200-plus-mile distances.

IT WASN’T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

Like many of you, I had to start somewhere, and my attitude wasn’t always positive.

I remember the first time I ran six miles, it felt like the worst experience of my life. I was tired, everything hurt, and I was wondering why anyone would do this. Interestingly enough, that very same day, I was wondering if I could go farther than six miles. I began to forget the pain and started focusing on how good it felt to accomplish my goal.

If you had told me then that I would be running 300 miles across some of the wildest terrain found on earth, I would have thought you were crazy. But it just slowly snowballed into a little bit farther and a little bit farther. That shift in focus from the negative to the positive lit something inside me. I started quite literally chasing the feeling of accomplishment, knowing that with every step forward, I would be one step closer to my next goal.

BUT WHAT IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOAL?

Each goal starts with an “I wonder if I can” thought or statement. Believe it or not, this statement is your first step toward achieving your goal. And just one step past wonder becomes belief, and belief will carry you farther than you ever thought possible.

I often think of a pitcher closing their eyes and visualizing the catcher’s mitt before they throw the ball. Likewise, if you are a runner, can you see yourself crossing the finish line? Can you see yourself on the podium? Can you picture yourself receiving that medal or achieving the goal you’re trying to obtain? That visualization exercise is an exercise in belief. It’s a way to get yourself excited for the goal ahead, and that excitement can shift your attitude in a positive direction.

BUT HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE?

I often get asked how I maintain a positive attitude during my 200-300 mile distance races, even when times get hard—because times do get hard. I will often joke that I’m out there solving all the world’s problems, but the reality is, I am working hard on the good old power of distraction.

I remember one time during a race, I was really struggling. It was at night, and I often listen to music at night to lift my spirits. This particular time, music just wasn’t cutting it, so I was shuffling through some things I had downloaded, and I came across some stand-up comedy. I started listening and immediately, my mind was engaged. I started laughing at all the jokes, and instantly, my breathing slowed down. I ran more relaxed; my energy increased, all because of the shift in my attitude of being joyful and happy. I was having fun, and I realized that this actually produced physical energy within my body.

On the flip side, if you start to think negative thoughts, you actually feel stressed and drained and weak and tired. The body responds to what the mind is actively working through.

When I start to get down on myself and those negative thoughts turn into a negative attitude, it changes the way I hold my body. And instead of moving forward, I start to stand still and mentally move backward. I begin thinking about all the reasons I shouldn’t be here or why I’m not good enough. My pains, which were only bothering me a little, now hurt more. The miles that I was counting down seem to be getting longer. 10 miles left in the race might as well be 100 when I get into this mindset.

There will be times when you’re going to hit the struggle bus and things aren’t going to go your way. Approaching those challenges with a joyful outlook on life or a positive attitude will be a key factor in getting back on the road and running smoothly.

BUT WHAT IF I FAIL?

Failure happens even with the most positive of attitudes. I have had my share of failures, including several races where I’ve had to make the difficult decision to tap out and accept the dreaded DNF
(did not finish).

I have had to sit with my disappointments and in a pile of negative energy because it’s all part of the process. But, the thing about negative energy is that it can work effectively with positive energy as it’s channeled into a drive that is even more power-charged than before. Just think about a battery that needs both negative and positive charges to power a machine. Jumper cables are both positive and negative, and with both, the seemingly lifeless car starts again.

Don’t be afraid of failing. Don’t be afraid of feeling those negative feelings, but make sure to pair them with the positive ones so that you can have all the energy you need to reach your destination.

If you have a destination in mind and you would like me to help you get there, contact me on Instagram
@adventure.your.potential or visit my website adventureyourpotential.com
September 4, 2025
Find Your Fit

As a fitness trainer, coach, and ultra-distance runner, I’m often asked: What’s the best running shoe? It’s a fair question, but my answer is always the same—it depends on you.

When someone begins their running journey to pursue a health or fitness goal, finding the right shoe is essential. The wrong shoes can cause discomfort, injury, or even long-term damage. Think of it like this: shoes are to your feet what glasses are to your eyes. Everyone has a unique prescription, and your shoes should match your specific biomechanics and training style.

I’ve been there myself—frustrated and stuck in a cycle of trial and error. Back in 2009, when I started running regularly, I tried countless brands in search of the perfect fit. Most of them left me with sore feet, aching knees, and even back pain. Nothing felt right.

Then, in 2011, I heard about a new brand called Altra, founded by a few young entrepreneurs from Utah County. I gave them a shot—and from my first run, I was pain-free. That moment was a turning point in my life. Altra shoes didn’t just ease my pain—they opened the door to a new chapter. With the right shoes, I could train harder and longer. They helped me become a professional endurance athlete, coach, and personal trainer.

Over time, I got to know the founders of Altra—Brian Beckstead, Golden Harper, and Jeremy Howlett. Today, Brian, who was the original beta tester of the brand’s first modified shoes (yes, they used a waffle iron!), lives right here in Heber Valley. He’s also the only one of the three founders still working with Altra, now serving on the board of directors.

“Altra is a local brand,” Brian told me. “We started right here in Utah, and we have a great history and relationship with this state. Our trail shoes—Timp, Lone Peak, Olympus, Superior—are named after iconic Utah mountains that inspired us.”

Now that he lives in Heber, Brian says he’s enjoying a slower pace of life and looking for ways to give back to the community that helped build Altra.

One of those ways is through volunteering at the Wasatch 100, one of Utah’s most iconic ultra-distance races.

“Our number one selling shoe—the Lone Peak—was developed specifically for the Wasatch 100,” Brian said. “For the last six years, I’ve volunteered at the Lambs Canyon aid station, and this year I’m excited to take over the Big Mountain aid station.”

He’s also become an assistant coach for the Wasatch High School cross country team, where his son now runs.

“My goal is to help the kids run healthy and happy.”

“My wife grew up in Kamas, so we always wanted to end up in Heber,” he shared. “We moved here in 2019, and now that I have a bit more time, I love mentoring local youth. We’ve got an amazing group of kids here.”

Despite his deep ties to Altra, Brian is careful not to push the brand on the athletes he coaches.

“My goal is to help the kids run healthy and happy,” he said. “If Altras work for them, awesome. If not, that’s totally fine, too. What matters most is that their shoes support their biomechanics and prevent injury.”

That focus on movement mechanics is at the heart of why Altra was founded—and it’s a principle I share with my own clients.

“The shoe that makes your body perform best is the one you should be wearing,” I tell them.

The right shoes won’t just take you on a run—they can take you on a journey. One that leads to better health, more confidence, and in some cases, a completely new life path. For me and Brian, Altra was that catalyst.

Hopefully, the right shoes will take you places you never dreamed possible.

More Information: altrarunning.com
June 5, 2025
Timpanogos

Mount Timpanogos—affectionately known as “Timp”—is one of my favorite training grounds for big mountain events. Named after the Timpanogos Ute tribe, the name translates to “rock” (tumpi-) and “canyon” or “water mouth” (panogos). With rocky terrain, cascading waterfalls, and wildflower-filled meadows, it has completely captivated my heart. I run it multiple times a week throughout the summer months. Come and join me!

In over 15 years of trail running in Utah, I’ve summited Timp more than 100 times from several approaches. While I would never claim mastery over the mountain—because the mountains are always in charge—I’ve gathered some tips to help others make the most of this iconic peak.

The Routes

There are two main trails to the summit: Timpooneke and Aspen Grove. Both are similar in distance but offer different challenges and views. Each trailhead requires a parking fee, and Timpooneke additionally requires a weekend/holiday permit through recreation.gov.

Timpooneke Trail (American Fork Canyon): Known as the “less strenuous” route, this 14.2-mile trail gains about 4,500 feet and features a gradual incline. It often has fewer crowds and more wildlife.

Aspen Grove Trail (above Sundance Resort): Slightly shorter at 13.9 miles, this route gains roughly 5,000 feet and is steeper. It offers incredible views, including Emerald Lake, and a more dramatic ascent.

One of my favorite variations is a 20-mile loop: starting at Aspen Grove, take the Lame Horse Trail to the Alpine Summit Trailhead, connect via Horse Flat and Salamander Flat Trails to Timpooneke, ascend to the summit, then descend via the Mt. Timpanogos Trail back to Aspen Grove. It’s a solid 6,000 feet of elevation gain and pure adventure.

Best Time to Hike

Safety is key. Trailheads typically open mid-to-late June and close by late November, depending on snow. These windows are for your protection—bridges and ridges can remain snow-covered and icy into early summer.

One of my favorite things about hiking Timp is catching glimpses of spring in summer. Because of the altitude, wildflowers bloom well into August. And fall is equally breathtaking. For peak autumn color, aim for late September or early October. You won’t regret it.

Safety First

There are several precautions to consider:

Snow & Ice: Even in July, icy patches may linger. Bring spikes and poles just in case.

Wildlife: You are entering their home. I’ve seen goats, bighorn sheep, moose, mountain lions, coyotes, one bear, and even a rattlesnake. Be aware, stay calm, and know how to respond to encounters.

Heat: Much of the trail is exposed. Start early to avoid afternoon sun, and pack plenty of water and nutrition. Whether hiking or running, you’ll likely be out 8–12 hours depending on your pace. Don’t forget your electrolytes (I always bring Redmond Re-Lyte).

Altitude: At over 11,000 feet, altitude sickness is possible. Take your time. If you feel dizzy or nauseated, descend. Communicate any fears or limitations with your group.

Trail Etiquette

Nothing ruins a day in nature like an entitled hiker or runner. A few reminders:

Uphill hikers always have the right of way.

Yield to horses and goats. Keep your distance from hoofed animals and do not ever approach the goats.

Dogs are allowed but must be leashed—and picked up after.

Stay on the trail. Cutting switchbacks causes erosion and damages fragile ecosystems. If volunteers place logs or sticks to guide hikers, please respect
their work.

Pack it in, pack it out. Leave the mountain better than you found it—even if it means picking up someone else’s trash.

I always tell people: we’re guests in Mother Nature’s house. Let’s teach the next generation to tread lightly, follow the trail, and embrace the challenge—because cutting corners, on trails or in life, only robs us of growth.

Mount Timpanogos is truly an experience like no other. I return to it again and again, not just for training, but for the perspective, peace, and awe it brings. I hope to see you out there on the trail!

More information: alltrails.com
June 5, 2025
Step into Success

Have you ever wished for a life instruction manual, only to realize it never existed?

As a father of three, including a son at Wasatch High School, I often imagined how useful it would be to have one for parenting. Without it, I relied on mentors, trial and error, and the valuable input of my children. The same is true for fitness journeys.

If you’re like me, you want to be healthy and fit but don’t always know how to get there. Years ago, as a young father focused on providing for my family, I slipped out of shape. My eating habits were poor, my workouts lacked direction, and by my early 30s, I weighed nearly 220 pounds—50 pounds heavier than in my twenties.

Growing up active, I assumed I had the tools to turn things around. But there was no manual. I lifted weights aimlessly, ran until my knees hurt, and felt discouraged. My trial-and-error approach led to more frustration than progress.

Finding My Mentors

Thankfully, I found mentors who had already navigated these challenges. They became my instruction manual. With their guidance, I adjusted my diet, incorporated low-impact exercises, and gradually lost weight. My strength training evolved, and I began running again, building confidence with every step.

Then I discovered trail running. The soft, uneven terrain was a game-changer. Unlike road running, it felt natural and forgiving, making me believe I could be a “real” runner again. My trail-running friends pushed their limits, and through their example, I realized my own potential. As my diet, strength, and endurance aligned, my body told me I was on the right path.

A Pivotal Moment

In 2014, a friend invited me to pace her in the inaugural Tahoe 200, a grueling 200-mile race around Lake Tahoe. I agreed to pace her for 30 miles, but when other pacers dropped out, I ended up running 93 miles.

During those miles, my friend gave me simple but crucial tasks—tracking time, reminding her to eat and drink, and making sure I did the same. Had she asked beforehand if I could run 93 miles, I’d have said no way. But that experience redefined my limits and became a turning point in my ultrarunning career.

Leveling Up

Surrounded by athletes chasing ambitious goals, I felt inspired to do the same. In 2015, I committed to running an ultramarathon every month. I immersed myself in learning about nutrition, gear, and endurance training. That September, I completed my first 200-mile race—a moment that proved I was capable of far more than I had imagined.

Since then, I’ve continued pushing my limits. At 47, I am fitter than ever, both in the gym and on the trails. I owe much of my success to the mentors who guided me, which is why I’ve made it my mission to pay it forward.

Paying It Forward

Pacing my friend in Tahoe showed me not only my own potential but also my passion for helping others achieve their goals. That experience led me to a career in personal training and coaching. There is something incredibly rewarding about witnessing someone push past their perceived limits and grow stronger, both physically and mentally.

As a certified personal trainer with over 20 years of strength training experience and a decade as a competitive endurance athlete, I specialize in helping people become the fittest versions of themselves. I’ve trained athletes at all levels, from those chasing endurance goals to individuals looking to regain their health.

If you’re ready to level up your fitness—whether you’re an athlete, pursuing a major life goal, or simply aiming for a healthier lifestyle—reach out:
Instagram @adventure.your.potential or www.adventureyourpotential.com
March 10, 2025
Destination Dolomites

What’s a goal without a destination in mind? That’s the question I’ve often asked myself, and, as an extension, my clients. Hi, I’m Ben Light, a fitness trainer right here in Heber Valley. As a coach who works with endurance athletes from all walks of life, I’ve found that while goals and destinations are often synonymous, those who make their goals tangible, have higher success rates.

About a year and a half ago, I started training Kristin Bunnell, who just so happens to be the creative director here at Heber Valley Life. When she first started training with me, I encouraged her to establish a goal that she truly wanted to accomplish. We brainstormed several ideas, and several days later, she came up with a goal that even managed to surprise me: An eight-day backpacking trip through the Dolomites of Italy with her husband.

The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy that reaches peaks of nearly 11,000 feet in elevation. When Kristin presented me with the idea, not only was I excited for her to have this experience, but as a coach here in the great state of Utah, I knew that I could come up with a training plan that would nearly mimic what she would need in order to have a successful adventure.

To help Kristin reach her destination, I created a four-month customized strength endurance training program that included a strong foundation in the gym, alongside training sessions utilizing the trail systems here in the Heber Valley. Over the 16 weeks, I increased her outdoor fitness and prepared her for the steep ascents and descents of the Dolomites. During our time training, we met weekly for an in-person training session that progressed from general exercises to advanced complex exercises that built her endurance and fitness. Throughout this process, I taught her proper form and function, which is the reasoning behind each exercise. On the days we didn’t meet, I had detailed workouts and scheduled rest days for Kristin to follow on her own and practice individual accountability.

As her coach, I can attest to the grit and determination that Kristin showed throughout her training, and even more to how awesome her experience at the Dolomites was. But I think it’s best coming from her.

Setting The Goal

Ben handed me a challenge: come up with a mountain summit or an adventure to train toward. I’d already tackled plenty of adventures close to home, so I figured, why not broaden the horizons—way out there.

Once I started brainstorming, my ideas kept escalating until I landed on something that had me practically pinching myself—the Alta Via 1 trail in Italy’s Dolomites. It’s a 75-mile trek stretching from Dobbiaco in the north to Belluno in the south. Most hikers give themselves eleven days to do it, but I decided to aim for eight because…well, go big or go home, right?

Sure, I’d done some backpacking in Canada’s Rockies, Vancouver Island, and Utah’s Uintas, but eight days in the Italian Alps? That was next-level. When I shared my goal with Ben, he just grinned and said, “Alright, this is going to be epic. Let’s get ready for some serious vertical!” I’m not sure he was expecting me to pick something quite this ambitious, but for me, it was a perfect blend of excitement and challenge.

Training For The Haul

Ben customized my training to a T. Every workout was geared to prepare me for the long days on my feet, as well as the intense elevation and rugged terrain I’d be facing. Hiking in the Dolomites isn’t exactly like the switchback trails I’m used to in Utah—it’s more of an up-and-down rollercoaster over multiple summits each day. Ben knew this, and he set me up for it.

In the gym, he had me prepping with a 30-pound pack on my back. We talked about fuel and gear—he even gave me the inside scoop on his go-to brands. He thought of everything, from staying energized to staving off blisters, and let me tell you, that attention to detail made all the difference.

Showing Up Prepared

The Dolomites were absolutely jaw-dropping. It was hard, no doubt, but here’s the thing: I didn’t have to spend the whole trek focused on how tired I was or whether I could make it. There were many hikers that we met along the way that cut out early. Ben’s training left me able to truly soak up every step of the experience.

I’ve been on hikes before where I’m practically crawling to the summit and recovering for days, but this time? I could actually look around and revel in the landscape. The Dolomites are unlike anything else — those jagged peaks and sweeping valleys! It felt surreal to be surrounded by such beauty and actually feel strong enough to enjoy it fully. Honestly, I could have turned around at the end of the eighth day and trekked back in the other direction.

Every day out there, I felt super grateful to Ben for helping me prepare. Because of him, I got to fully live in each moment, without holding back.

ALTA VIA 1
stats

DISTANCE
76 miles

Highest Point 9,029ft

Lowest Point 1,470ft

Overall Gain 23,125ft

Now What?

That challenge from Ben really lit a fire. I’ve got a whole new approach to travel and adventure, and as I boldly (and sometimes unwillingly) stride through my 40s, I’m already planning the next big adventure. After the trek, Ryan and I spent a few days back in Venice, and honestly, we couldn’t help but say, “We should have just kept hiking. That would’ve been way more fun!”

As we boarded the flight home, we kept looking at each other like, “Wait, how can this possibly be over?” And that was it: before we even landed, we started planning the next trek.

Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.

This experience ignited a whole new level of confidence for us, almost like a window into “What else can we do?” It was rewarding to train for something so challenging. Our new goal is to tackle a big adventure trek every year — one that pushes us to prepare and experience different mountain ranges around the world.

Let’s Train For Your Destination

Training Kristin for the Dolomites inspired me to want to help others to help reach their destinations. Because, when a goal becomes a destination, you bring more life, purpose, and experience into your life.

If you have a destination in mind, and you would like me to help you get there, contact me on Instagram @adventure.your.potential or visit my website adventureyourpotential.com.
December 9, 2024
10 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Health and Fitness Goals.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were all born ready to take on the world 100 miles at a time and never got tired? Wouldn’t it be nice if our muscle mass and stamina were always on par and it didn’t matter our season of life (young, middle-aged, old, tired, mid-life-crisis), we would always be race-ready?

The truth of the matter is that life isn’t like that for 100% of the population. This means that we must start somewhere and find ways to maintain and improve our fitness levels with significant life hurdles ready and willing to trip us up and knock us down.

As an ultra-distance runner and a coach who trains athletes from all walks of life, I want to let you in on a little secret: there have been times in my life when I haven’t been in peak condition. In fact, despite growing up in a home where playing sports year-round was encouraged. Despite being a fit teenager and young adult, life found a way to derail my positive physical health trajectory.

Throughout my twenties, as a newlywed father of two, while working a full-time night job and a part-time day job to help put my wife through school, I found myself struggling to be consistent with my workouts. When I did make it to the gym, I always felt so much better. I handled my crazy overnight work schedule, had more energy to play with my kids, and the stress and anxiety of life didn’t seem to weigh me down as much. The contrast to the way I felt was obvious and I endeavored to make working out a part of my everyday life.

Close to my thirties, however, I noticed that I started to gain unwanted weight even though I was lifting weights on a consistent basis. Yes, I built a strong body lifting heavy weights, but I was carrying more marbled mass than the lean muscle mass I was hoping for. Due to this, I decided to integrate more cardio into my fitness regimen. I tried running, but the weight of my body made it extremely uncomfortable. My knees, back, and feet would scream at me far quicker than my heart or lungs did. I began to integrate swimming for a few months to help reduce my weight so that I could be conditioned enough to run.

As the years have gone on, I may not have tapped into the eternal resilience I wish I had, but I am most always race-ready, whether it is competing in races or helping others complete theirs. Over these years as an athlete and coach, I have come up with the following tried and true tips to help you achieve your health and fitness goals
1. DEFINE Your Goal(s)
Just like any destination, you need to know where you’re headed if you intend on getting there. The same goes for fitness goals. You can’t just say that you want to get into shape if you don’t know what that means or looks like for you. Be specific with what you want to achieve.
1. BELIEVE
You are fully capable of achieving your goal. I like to ask, “Does the math add up?” This means, is it humanly possible for you to do this? If the math adds up, it does take “a little bit of pixie dust” as Peter Pan says. Belief really can go a long way when coupled with determination, consistent effort, and unbridled grit.
1. Establish Your WHY
A goal is only as good as the reason or reasons for achieving it. This is why it is so important to establish your why. Ask yourself what the driving force behind your goal is. That driving force or your “WHY” will help you push into the “unknown” or past what you have ever experienced. The strength of your WHY will help you drive forward when you are faced with unforeseen challenges.
1. Create a SCHEDULE
Flying by the seat of your pants is fun, but time has a way of taking over anything that isn’t written in stone. When creating a schedule, work backward to establish milestones along the way. Once your schedule is planned out, you have a better picture of each day as you plan out your weeks. This will help you plan your workouts around your family and work schedule. Start with smaller achievable goals to create synergy, then slowly increase your daily/weekly/monthly goals to increase your momentum as your physical capacity increases along with your mental confidence in yourself.
1. CONSISTENCY is King
There will be days when your schedule doesn’t pan out, but something is always better than nothing. If you had an hour run planned, but only have 20 minutes, take the 20 minutes. At least you got your body moving, and you’re maintaining those healthy habits.
1. Focused EFFORT
Focused effort is not just putting in work and showing up; it’s refining your motion by zeroing in on how you can do the exercises better and more efficiently. As you become more efficient, your capacity to do more grows. Be intentional about your workouts and think — quality over quantity.
1. Expect Challenges
It’s important to know that if you are stepping outside of your comfort zone, you are going to experience challenges. If you already know to expect challenges, you can look at them as opportunities for growth to help you gain knowledge that will empower you against future obstacles.
1. Finish the Workout
One of the things I say to my personal training clients is that finishing the workout is more important than starting the workout. You don’t do the workout for the warmup or even the middle of the run or set of reps; you do the whole workout. When fatigue sets in and it becomes more challenging and taxing, that’s when you are right on the edge of growth. That’s where the magic happens.
1. Be Patient
So many people give up on their goals because they want instant gratification and lack the patience to see it through to the end. When you start your goal, understand that patience is going to be a key factor in seeing that goal through to the end. It takes time. True transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it happens over time. There are no quick and easy shortcuts.
1. RECOVERY is 50% of Training
After you do your workout, muscles need time to repair and recover before doing another one. You need to repair your muscles. You need to have that rest. You need to eat proper nutrition.

Achieving your health and fitness goals may not come easy, but over time, it can become a way of life. Soon, you will be race-ready —perhaps even on a consistent basis.

More Info:

For more helpful tips or coaching, and to follow along on my many endurance and training adventures, I can be found on Instagram @adventure.your.potential or visit my website adventureyourpotential.com
September 9, 2024
Take Care.

Have you ever participated in an athletic endurance event? If so, you’ve likely experienced the aches, pains, muscle and joint fatigue — and perhaps even mental exhaustion — that follows. Due to that, you’ve probably had to allow your body time to normalize before resuming your training regimen.

As an aging ultra runner who specializes in 200-plus-mile events, I know firsthand what it’s like to have to recover from endurance events, and how crucial it is to allow my body and mind recovery time. Over the years, I’ve come to realize (sometimes the hard way), that not only do I need to respect the recovery time after races, but I need to implement it within my scheduled training.

What is recovery?

According to the National Institute of Health, recovery from exercise refers to the time period between the end of a bout of exercise and the subsequent return to a resting or recovered state.

While reading that, did you notice that the definition doesn’t state that recovery must happen only after the extreme bouts of exercise, but simply following exercise?

Each time we exercise, our heart rate goes up; muscles engage to be able to withstand prolonged periods of movement and impact; blood vessels expand to allow more blood flow; lungs and heart work harder; and our bodies break down glucose to create lactic acid to generate enough energy to exercise. And while all of these things are critical adaptations our body makes, each requires a period of recovery to get back to a resting and normal state.

What forms of recovery are there?

There are many ways that our bodies recover. There’s active recovery, passive recovery, ways to recover through sleep, nutrition and many in between. Each is imperative and should be intentionally implemented regularly.

Here are some key aspects of recovery that I implement as an athlete and as a coach:

Sleep

Sleep is probably the most effective tool for recovery, and all you have to do is get enough of it. That’s easier said than done, I know.

There was a time in my life when I was lucky to get six hours of sleep each night while getting up before 4 a.m. to get my workout in before getting kids to school and starting work. This was taxing on my body, but I managed. As I increased my goals to become more competitive, I had to increase my level of training. I had to counteract this added stress on my body by increasing my volume of sleep to over eight hours. As I did that, I saw huge dividends of recovery and performance increases.

This was due to sleep helping to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol breaks down tissues in the body for energy, which is the opposite of what growth hormones do. Lowering cortisol levels lets growth hormones more effectively rebuild injured tissues. And of course, high-quality sleep that includes REM and deep sleep improves cognitive function, bolsters immune systems and supports overall mental health.

Muscle recovery

If you’ve seen me at the Fitstop in Heber, you know that I’m often found upstairs on the turf area using a foam roller or massage ball for a good 30 minutes before starting my workouts. I do this because I know that this extra bit of time will not only help loosen my muscles to increase muscle performance within my workouts but will also prepare the muscles to recover quicker after my workouts.

Whether you use things like foam rolling, compression boots, or get massages from a specialized therapist (my wife, Brittany, happens to be one of the best), doing these things will reduce muscle soreness, inflammation, and break up knots that restrict motion. Regular muscle maintenance also increases blood flow and oxygen to the muscles, aiding in continual healing and repair.

Stress management

It’s no secret that life stressors impact our ability to recover. When we’re stressed, sleep, and time in general, is hard to come by. Exercise is often used as that stress relief, but if your active training isn’t balanced with stress management techniques like meditation or less intense exercise, your body and mind will miss out on much needed recovery.

While I have never participated in an organized meditation session, I feel that as a runner, we get into what we call “the flow” where our brains settle into a mediated state. This allows our bodies and minds to relax even in an active state of running.

Much like sleep, stress management techniques like meditation, yoga and “easier” workouts can reduce levels of cortisol, aiding in the recovery process.

Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of recovery that I’m continually fine tuning. In recent years, I’ve focused on selecting high quality types of protein in my daily nutrition regimen. Due to this, I’ve seen an increase in my performance and recovery. Conversely, by reducing and eliminating unhealthy carbs like sugar and gluten, I’ve increased my performance and recovery by reducing inflammation in the body.

Proper nutrition that’s taken strategically, helps repair the muscle fibers, refills glycogen storages, helps lubricate the joints and decrease inflammation.

In fact, research indicates that eating a balanced diet that includes healthy fats and proteins (farm fresh eggs, grass-fed beef, avocados), have beneficial increases in tissue, ligament and joint health. Additionally, timing the intake of healthy carbs like potatoes and rice around training has a positive impact on performance and recovery.

Methods to increase the rate of recovery

There are several innovative ways to increase the rate of recovery that are available.

Red light therapy uses photo biomodulation, which is a low-level laser therapy that delivers red and near-infrared light to areas of your body. This helps regenerate cells, restore cell function and trigger blood flow.

For the past year, I’ve been incorporating low light therapy at Valhalla Plus weekly in my training and recovery regimen. I have noticed an increase in sleep, mental focus and clarity within my daily activities and training sessions.

Cold plunge is an effective way to recover after running, but not directly after weightlifting, because extreme cold can limit some muscle gain. Cold plunges constrict blood vessels, which can decrease inflammation and muscle damage. If done 6-8 hours after weightlifting, cold plunges can be effective.

I’ve been cold plunging regularly for the past nine months at Valhalla and have experienced noticeable results in my recovery, including significant decrease in muscle soreness and reduced inflammation.

Saunas work to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow and can be used to repair damaged muscles. A cautionary note would be not to go to extremes on the duration and frequency of sauna sessions, so you don’t over stress your body. It is also important to make sure you are replenishing your lost electrolytes.

Active recovery, or as I like to call it, “motion is lotion,” is the cool-down after a hard workout or the evening dog walk to keep your body moving. It’s also the short run, walk or bike ride after a hard workout to get that lactic acid out of your legs.

After I or any one of my clients complete a challenging endurance event, it is extremely important to allow the body to recover before returning to their training for their next event or just returning to their base fitness routine. But one must not stop all together. Instead, it is important to keep moving. We call this active recovery.

As a coach to a variety of different athletes with a variety of different goals, recovery is a key component in my clients’ fitness regimen. Whether you’re preparing for an event or just looking to increase your overall health and fitness, make sure to prioritize recovery as much as the workouts, so you can increase your chances of remaining healthy and fit.

We’re in it for the long haul, so let’s take our time getting there.
June 4, 2024
Stay Salty.

Have you ever ‘bonked’ during a workout or felt an imbalance in your body during exercise or even in your daily life routine? If so, there’s a chance that you may have an electrolyte imbalance (low electrolytes).

For many, when you hear the term electrolytes, your mind may immediately go to popular sports drinks because these products have all but claimed this term as their own. The image of a pro athlete taking a gulp of colorful juice and sweating out that same color has long been cemented in the minds of millions as the best way to replace electrolytes.

While bringing awareness to this feeling of crashing during and after exercise is important, it is even more imperative to let people know what electrolytes are, why they are so important, and what can happen to the body when there are imbalances.

That’s where I come in.

My name is Ben Light. I am an elite endurance athlete and professional strength endurance coach local to Wasatch County. I’ve also experienced the devastating effects of an electrolyte imbalance firsthand.

Now, before I share a story with you about a time when I found myself in a scary electrolyte-less situation, here’s a quick rundown on what electrolytes are.

There are seven different types of electrolytes found in the body: sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate. And much like the name, electrolyte, suggests, there is electricity involved. Each of these elements has a positive and negative electrical charge, and when there is an imbalance in any of them, it can cause you to feel tired, have muscle aches, dehydration, and even limited brain and body function.

Several years ago, I experienced all these symptoms and more while running a 200-mile race in the Washington Cascades. The race was called the Bigfoot 200, and I was in the best shape of my life. At the beginning of the race, I was putting together my pack, and I had my electrolytes in a baggy. I don’t know exactly what happened, but when it came time to put on my pack, somehow, I missed putting my bag of electrolytes in the pocket of my pack.

I hadn’t noticed that I didn’t have my supply of electrolytes until after I left the first aid station at mile 12. All I could do was push on and hope for the best. I was fine for a few more miles since, during that section of the race, I was running under a large canopy of trees, shaded from the elements. However, as we entered what is called the blast zone, an area that resembles what I might imagine the moon or a devastated war zone to look like due to a volcanic eruption in the area in 1980, reports showed that it was 110 degrees.

While running through the blast zone, I was in a solid third place against some elite athletes, but I started to cramp. Even though I had plenty of water, I didn’t have extra electrolytes, and I soon found myself lying on the side of the trail with both legs completely locked up.

Most everyone was suffering in this section; however, several runners were gracious enough to hand me the electrolytes they could spare. But I was so far depleted of electrolytes that my imbalance was to the extreme. None of us realized how hot it was going to be, and we had a good distance to go before we would get to a natural spring where we could refill our waters. But even in the natural spring, I still didn’t have any electrolytes. I could only intake water, and that wasn’t going to solve the issue.

Here is where I am going to pause my story to tell you about the relationship between electrolytes and water.

Water is a critical element in the body’s ability to absorb electrolytes since it is the very thing that dissolves them and gives them their negative and positive charges to conduct ‘electricity.’ Additionally, your body needs electrolytes to retain water, and without them, there is a threat of dehydration.

And while there are trace amounts of electrolytes in non-distilled water, solely drinking water will not provide you with enough electrolytes — especially while participating in an extreme exercise like I was.

Getting back to my story: after refilling at the spring, I was able to make it another 10 miles to the next aid station, but my muscles were still locked up, and I was starting to feel extremely nauseous and began throwing up. I was so dehydrated, even though I had water. I felt like my body was falling apart, and I ended up being medically pulled from the race by the medics to avoid any further damage to my body.

That night, I was able to get electrolytes to help my body recover, and the next day I felt amazing! I ended up returning to the race and pacing other participants over another 100 miles. I even helped one gentleman who helped me make it to that spring to get water when I was struggling earlier in the race.

It was truly amazing to see the immediate shift in my body and mind once I was able to replenish it with the right balance of electrolytes.

What is the right amount of electrolytes?

It’s a fact that my experience above is extreme, but an electrolyte imbalance can happen to anyone simply because it’s all about ratios.

If you are doing an activity that is causing you to sweat (lose electrolytes), then finding ways to replace those is going to put things back in check. These activities could include being outside gardening for several hours, playing pickleball with your buddies or even spending a day at the beach with your kids. The key is paying attention to the signs your body is giving you that it’s a little off balance, and making sure to get it back on track.

According to Recommended Daily Allowances, each person is recommended to have 1,600 to 2,000 mg of electrolytes per day. That amount increases with physical activity and environmental conditions.

To put this in perspective, there are 160 mg of sodium and 45 mg of potassium per 12-fluid-ounce serving of normal sports drinks, not to mention 23 g of sugar. Simply put, a sports drink is well BELOW the allowance needed, and especially low for those actively losing electrolytes through exercise.

As an endurance athlete and coach who has experienced the extremes that can come from not having balanced electrolytes, it has been important for me to find natural products that I can use and that I can recommend to those I work with.

One company I recommend is Redmond Re-Lyte Electrolytes. Redmond is a local company based right here in Heber City that uses salt mined from the earth in its electrolyte products with zero added sugar.

Whether you are outside gardening, playing with your kids, working out in the gym, running a 5K or even a 200-mile endurance run, paying close attention to your electrolytes, and keeping them balanced may very well be a key to having the energy you need to keep going — and perhaps helping others also reach their goals.

For more helpful tips or inquiries for personal training, coaching, or to just follow along with me on my many endurance and training adventures, I can be found on Instagram @adventure.your.potential or visit my website www.adventureyourpotential.org
March 8, 2024
Adventure Your Potential Training for Life

Have you ever wanted to go out and run 200 miles of mountain terrain just because you could?

This is a question that not a lot of people ask themselves, but what if you could? What if you could just go and do because you were physically and mentally prepared to do so?

My name is Ben Light, and I am a husband, father, ultrarunner, coach, and overall life-liver from Heber City.

For the past decade, my second home has been the mountains here along the Wasatch Front. If you have had the chance to spend even a few minutes in the mountains of our state, you know that we have something special here in our very own backyard. And, if you’ve ran or hiked any of the trails, you likely know that there is nothing like constant forward motion along the uneven, rocky terrain of a mountain trail, surrounded by nature and its ever-changing environment as each season passes.

As an ultrarunner specializing in distances greater than 200 miles, I’ve experienced not only the ever changing-terrain, but the human element that comes with completing long distances.

I know what it’s like to have big goals and, over the course of time, see those goals slip away and return by digging deep to find something inside myself that I didn’t know was there. I know what it’s like to run in the dark; needing to find the light within until the sun comes out to light the day and carry me through to another one.

Digging Deep

In 2018, I competed in the Spine Race in the UK, which is a 268-mile race in the dead of winter. I knew going in that I would be facing some tough conditions — but I was prepared — at least to the best of my ability.

During that race, the weather turned, and we were hit with Britain’s biggest storm in over 30 years. Wind and snow not only made it so that we couldn’t see any farther than two feet in front of our faces, but it isolated many of us racers on the mountains with nobody coming to help us.

Here I was at one of the highest plateaus of the course; traveling across Great Britain in terrain I was not familiar with, and in conditions that were really scary. To put this in perspective, it would be like going across a tundra area of Wyoming in the middle of a snow storm. I had snow up to my knees, and I couldn’t see the trail. I found myself relying solely on my GPS units, and post-holing in knee-deep snow for 20-miles through high winds and next to zero visibility.

At that point in time, I had to utilize every bit of mental strength and every tool of survival to endure what was definitely a life or death situation. If I was to stop, without a doubt, I would freeze to death. During that time, I had to dig deep. I had to really internalize and focus on that present moment. I had to endure and keep moving forward in order to get through.

Why am I telling you all of this? Why would someone put themselves through experiences like these?

Simply put: Because experiences like these really show us what we’re made of. Experiences like these help us to know ourselves a little bit better. Experiences like these help us understand what we are truly capable of.

Training for Life

As an ultra-runner I not only run races like the one I just told you about; I run as a way to give back to the community through community projects and as a coach.

For instance, during the summer of 2020, two of my long distance running friends and I decided to link up the Bear 100 and the Wasatch 100, which are two of Utah’s Iconic 100-mile ultra marathons, and finish up here in Heber Valley. We trekked over 300 miles, and did it all to raise funds to help a local paraplegic athlete acquire the tools he needed to train for his first Ironman.

With all the races and projects I do, friends and fellow athletes will often ask me, “What’s the next big thing, Ben?” My answer is always the same:

I am Training for Life

As a husband, father, brother, son, friend, and member of the human race, it is important that I keep myself healthy so I can fulfill all of my responsibilities that go along with all of those roles. And, when my kids say, “Hey, dad! Let’s go for a hike;” or my wife needs someone to pace her during a race; or when a longtime friend calls, asking me to go on an adventure, I know that my fitness level is where it needs to be to be able to say yes to all of those things. This may sound trivial, but as one who loves spontaneity and adventure, being able to have a healthy body that can take me places is important to me.

A few years back, I received a phone call from a friend asking if I was interested in running/climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming. Ever since I laid eyes on that majestic mountain it’s been on my bucket list. Although I would not recommend those without the technical expertise to free climb the Grand Teton, for me, I was grateful that I had the fitness and technical skill set that opened the opportunity to spontaneously accept the invitation. It was a mind blowing experience that words can’t even describe.

Spontaneity aside, being able to adventure at its most basic level, means that my body is healthy. For me, that means more than any grand adventure or long distance run or hike.

When I was in high school, I had a mild ski accident that resulted in compressing my L4-L5 vertebrates. This has been an ongoing challenge for me; throwing my back out has happened more times than I’d like to admit. Due to this, I have had to make sure that I maintain a healthy weight, so I don’t aggravate my back. Running, strengthening my core, increasing my flexibility, and changing my diet to be cleaner, while also increasing lean proteins has helped me to be healthy, so I can live life everyday healthy and free of pain. But it’s more than physical health and recreation: it’s about life.

Keep Moving Forward

For most of us, life is not a straight path without obstacles. Life throws us snow storms in foreign terrain. Life can even leave us alone to walk in metaphorical knee-deep and blinding snow with no way out but to keep moving forward.

This is why I do what I do, and share my passion with so many others.

Because sometimes life is full of beautiful, breathtaking terrain as far as the eye can see, and you feel like you could keep going forever just the way it is. And some days are dark and cold and long and scary, and you feel like you can’t take one more step.

But, I am here to say that you can. I am here to show you that you can adventure your potential because we all have room to grow, and there are so many amazing mountains left to climb.

Does this article speak to you?

Here are a few things to help you get started on your road to going the distance:

Baby steps. Nobody went 200 miles without taking that first step. Step, and then step some more.

Find a support group. While the ultimate goal is to be accountable to yourself; having a few friends or even a coach to help keep you accountable is a great way to start and hold on to for as long as you need.

Keep a journal. This is great for writing everything from goals, to documenting your daily progress, and even failures. Journals have a way of keeping us honest with ourselves, and are a great tool for reflection as you move on in your journey.

Trust yourself. You are the one who knows your body and mind. You know the challenges you have experienced and what you are capable of overcoming if you just listen. Trust in the body and mind that you have, knowing that it is capable of more than you know.

Embrace the moment. Whether you are able to run two miles or 200 miles — whether the moment is miserable or enjoyable — embrace the moment. Sit with yourself in your challenges and triumphs because it is all part of the journey that you are experiencing right now.

Last but not least. Invest in some running gear, because you’re gonna need it!

Connect with Ben

[email protected]

adventure.your.potential

AdventureYourPotential.com (under construction)
June 7, 2022
Light Speed
Written by Ben Light with contributing editor Julie Moulton

You might know Ben Light from throwing down at 200-mile races; he completed the Triple Crown of 200s in 2017 and has paced, volunteered or ran all three races every year since their debut in the ultra-running scene six years ago.

You might have heard about Ben tackling the Spine^® Race, a brutal 268-mile winter ultra in the United Kingdom with a notoriously-low finisher rate. He was one of the first Americans to take on the race, and when the event bested him at his first attempt, he returned the following year during the worst winter storm the country had seen in 30 years. He crossed the finish line after 153 hours of exposure through more than 150 miles of blizzard conditions.

Or, you might have followed Ben last year during his Wasatch Tahoe Project: 305-miles of back-to-back ultramarathons that started on the same day but were located in different parts of the United States. He successfully completed both races in 119 hours.

You might not know that Ben is about to hop on a plane to shatter a world record: the fastest known self-supported time of the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne.

The HRP (Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne or “High Pyrenean Route”) is the gnarliest thread of peaks and ridges that you can string between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It is more of a concept than a designated trail traversing the aggressive and relatively young range. Ben will self-navigate the most rugged, demanding route battling both the clock and the elements. He will run through Spain, Andorra and France. He will average 59 miles and 21,250 feet of vertical gain each day. For eight days.

Another world record that he could potentially best, depending when he reaches the Atlantic coast: the fastest human in history to cross the entire range.

Supporting Himself, Supporting Others

Though he will have a film crew following to document his progress, Ben will carry all of his supplies and attend to all of his needs autonomously and without assistance. For Ben, the style in which you run is just as important as the distance. Self-supported means exactly that: no one will fill his pack or prepare a meal; no one will lance his blisters or mule his gear. The prestige of the route and the record is only captured by integrity.

To complete an ultra — especially an undertaking of this caliber — requires a fuel that burns longer and slower than simple carbs and caffeine; true endurance athletes feed their drive with their values. Ben’s fire burns for his family, his faith and his empathy for others.

Empathy is what initially drove him past the hundred-mile distance barrier. A Reno native, Ben attended the inaugural Tahoe 200-mile ultramarathon — but not to race. At the time, he was a gym rat tiptoeing around the outskirts of the ultra-running community in northern Utah. His running resume consisted of a single trail half marathon and a Ragnar relay event. When he offered to help pace a friend for a section or two, he had never run beyond the 32-mile distance. By the end, he paced 93 miles.

“By supporting someone else, I was able to achieve something I never thought possible for myself.”

Ben’s inner strength stems from his compassion for others; he would not have run 100 miles for himself, but when the prerogative shifted off himself, the fear of distance fell. The miles ticked by easily. The distance became invigorating. His mental limits turned to dust.

Running for a Cause

Ben is still running for others, and the foundation for his Pyrenees project is inspired by empathy for those who are struggling to take just a few steps. Neuroworx is a Utah non-profit organization that offers free rehabilitation for people experiencing paralysis. Whether individuals suffer from a spinal cord or brain injury, stroke, or a neurological condition, anyone who hopes to improve their quality of life and is willing to put in the effort can receive support from Neuroworx’s rehabilitation specialists. The program also offers a specific pediatric therapy for children with neurological conditions.

Neuroworx shines where a shadow has been cast. Individuals who could not take a single step have managed to re-learn how to walk on their own. Lives that were immobile have re-discovered functionality and purpose. Personal limits are pulverized day by day.

The trail is not easy, nor direct. These individuals, too, need to fuel themselves fully with the same grit and determination to complete their path of rehabilitation. Ben’s mission is to help bring financial means and awareness to the organization so they may continue to offer free services. This is the second year Ben has teamed up with Neuroworx, but this year he will be pushing both himself and his fundraising campaign further than ever before.

The Pyrenees Project

The Pyrenees Project contains 340,000 feet of elevation change and spans 470 miles between two coasts. The weather is formidable and unpredictable at an average altitude of 9,800 feet. Ben will have no refuge, no assistance and no true rest until he is seated on the beach of the Atlantic. His company will be the cols, glaciers, granite and the occasional village day hiker. He will bivouac when he needs to recharge, alone on the trail.

To complete a feat this monumental, a runner must be willing to sacrifice comfort and embrace the moments of misery, of loneliness, of pain. No one attempts a fastest-known time record without a deep willingness to suffer. The battle pits runner against terrain; heart against earth. Every minute counts.

When pitting yourself against a route of this magnitude, each step is about progress. “I look at the barriers and start breaking them down,” Ben strategizes. “If you want something badly enough, you have to be willing to break it down and take it step by step.” Whether it is the first or, as in Ben’s case, the millionth, every footstep draws the goal closer.

Of course, the route endeavors to break him down, too, little by little. The layers will peel away until only the raw core remains. Running ultra-races strips away the masks and defenses to reveal the contents of a soul. The question Ben will answer is whether the course or the core runs out first. That is the battle of the ultrarunner.

As the distance and wilderness chip away at Ben’s body and mind, he will need to manage all of the factors that contribute to completing this mission with mental dexterity and emotional steeliness. Every aspect of his training will be examined under the microscope as the miles accumulate: training, nutrition, gear and lighting, managing sleep deprivation, navigation, hydration – everything.

Ben has learned the lesson, many times through running, that life is about honing the skill to be able to adjust. It is about putting in the work to train or regain something that was lost, adapting to solve each situation and meet every need. This can only be accomplished through constant self-evaluation and correction.

The secret: Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed and do not overreact. Continue to adapt and grow as different challenges test you. In a place of isolation and the unknown, allow your core values to propel you through to the other side.

Empathy for others taught Ben that he could achieve incredible distances because his footsteps help change the lives of others. When the obstacle of the unknown fades and the fire ignited within is sustained, the desire to push the limits becomes engulfed by purpose. Running for others inspires him — even to the other side of the globe.

The Wasatch Tahoe Project illustrated a full circle of community support. Ben highlighted this support system in a post-race motivational speech to the Wasatch High School student body and hopes to continue to promote this circle of support within the Heber Valley community.

Ben recognizes that the success of the Wasatch Tahoe Project would not have been possible without the support of Heber Valley community. Ben was honored to partner with various Heber Valley businesses and together they were able to raise close to $8,000 for the Neuroworx organization.
August 30, 2019

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