Dawn’s Coffee Talk

My Misogi Challenge: What Running 50 Miles Taught Me About Life and Leadership

Running the Hennepin 50 was one of the most challenging and transformational experiences of my life. It wasn’t just a race — it was a mirror. Every mile revealed something about mindset, leadership, and resilience that applies just as much in business and life as it does on the trail.

I started the race strong. My support system was solid — two amazing women running beside me, my husband crewing, and my coach on standby. The plan was dialed in. Nutrition, hydration, pacing — all tested and ready.

But here’s the truth: no matter how strong your plan is, you can’t control everything once the race begins.

Lesson 1: The Best Plans Still Need Flexibility

Ten miles in, things started to fall apart. Stomach issues from the record breaking heat threw off my nutrition plan, and soon after, nausea hit hard. I had to adapt fast, eating what I could stomach — which turned out to be Go Gel pouches and Tailwind electrolyte fluids. 

That decision kept me moving but cost me energy later.

In business, it’s easy to cling to what’s worked before — even when the situation has changed. But the leaders who thrive are the ones who stay flexible, humble, and willing to pivot when conditions shift. You can’t control the terrain, but you can control your response.

Lesson 2: Don’t Starve Your Potential

I was only getting about 150 calories per hour — not nearly enough to sustain a 50-mile race. My energy crashed, my mind spiraled, and my motivation evaporated.

It made me think: how often do we try to run our life or business on empty?
We starve our potential by neglecting what fuels us — rest, inspiration, encouragement, or actual nourishment.

If you want to lead well, you have to feed yourself — physically, mentally, and spiritually — with things that sustain you over the long haul.

Lesson 3: The Power of the Right Voices

When I hit mile 38, I was in a dark place. My body was aching and swelling.  The pain started in my legs from an electrolyte imbalancement. My mindset was not good. My husband had to give me some solid coaching and encouragement to keep pushing through.  We still had a lot of race left to run! He helped me change my socks, get some nutrition in, and tough love to keep me moving. 

That tough love saved my race. The food he gave me became a turning point. With that fuel, my strength — and my faith — returned.

In leadership, sometimes you need people who won’t just cheer for you — but will challenge you. The ones who see the leader in you even when you’re tired, and push you toward your potential when you’re ready to give up.

Who are the voices in your circle? Are they the kind that comfort you… or the kind that call you higher?

Lesson 4: Leadership Is a Team Sport

By the final stretch, I had nothing left — except the people beside me. Brenda, one of the women I ran with, kept me going mile after mile.
She reminded me, “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.”

That’s leadership. It’s not about commanding — it’s about companioning.
Great leaders don’t just run their race; they help others find the strength to run theirs.

Lesson 5: Finish Lines Are an Illusion

When we reached the last aid station, I could see the finish line — but we had to run past it for a 2.5-mile out-and-back before we could actually cross. That moment was mental torture.

How often does life do that to us? We get close to the goal — the deal, the dream, the milestone — and then discover there’s a little more road left. It’s tempting to quit right there. But that’s where breakthroughs are born.

Sometimes the hardest part of the race comes right before the reward.

Lesson 6: Don’t Just Finish. Finish Well.

My goal for Hennepin was simple: cross the finish line before the cutoff. And I did. But the real victory wasn’t just in finishing — it was in what I learned about endurance, adaptability, and heart.

I discovered how to listen to my body.
I learned to recalibrate when things fell apart.
And I was reminded that I can do hard things — not just once, but again and again.

In business and life, it’s easy to aim for “just finishing.”
But what if we aimed higher?
What if our goal wasn’t just to survive — but to lead well, love well, and finish well?

The Misogi Mindset

A Misogi Challenge is meant to push you beyond your limits — to strip away what’s comfortable so you can discover what’s possible.

That’s what the Hennepin 50 did for me. It reminded me that growth doesn’t happen in the easy miles. It happens when the plan fails, when your legs are tired, when your mind screams stop — and you choose to keep going anyway.

Because on the other side of that pain is a version of yourself that’s stronger, wiser, and ready for the next challenge.

So whether you’re running 50 miles, leading a team, or building a business — remember:

The real finish line isn’t the end of the race. It’s who you become along the way.

Dawn

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