How to Start Training for an Endurance Challenge: Just Start and Learn to Love the Process
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This past Monday was a big day for me. It was officially 10 weeks from my first endurance challenge of the year and that means I am in the “zone” where I need to get my endurance training cranking. Every endurance athlete, or anyone even thinking about becoming one, starts in the same place: unsure where to begin. Whether your goal is to complete a local 5K, a 50-mile ultramarathon, or take on an event as epic as the 29029 Everesting Challenge, the hardest part isn’t the miles. It’s the mindset.
This year, I’m taking on three endurance events that represent three very different types of challenges: the UltraTrax at Bear Creek in April, the Mammoth March in the Delaware Valley at the end of May, and finally, 29029 Mont Tremblant in July as part of the Kyle Pease Foundation team. Each one will test my physical ability and mental resilience, but even more importantly, each one reminds me how simple the formula really is for starting any fitness journey.
There are two things you need to do.
One is easy.
One takes work; not physically, but mentally.
Just start
That’s it. You have to start. Don’t overthink it. Don’t analyze how you’ll get from “here” to “there.”
Back in 2022, I was someone who had never run more than a 5K, yet I signed up for my first endurance event not knowing what I was truly in for. That first step, literally and figuratively, changed everything.
Too often people stare at the mountain (sometimes literally, in my case) and think about how impossible it looks from the bottom. The truth is, you don’t need to see the whole path. You just need to start moving.
All movement is good movement. Go for a walk. Do a short run. Get in a workout before work or between meetings. The what matters far less than the consistency.
Once you begin, come up with a training plan that fits your life. This is especially important if you travel often or have a demanding schedule. I’ve done many training blocks from hotel gyms, airports, and random parking lots using minimal equipment. It’s not always perfect, but it’s progress.
The key is to make a plan you can actually stick to. Map out your weekly workouts, identify your long days, and note recovery times. When life gets messy (because it will), adjust but don’t abandon the plan. The act of showing up, even with modifications, builds both physical endurance and mental toughness.
Enjoy the process
This is where the real work begins. Starting is simple. Enjoying the process takes a shift in mindset.
For many, the finish line or event day feels like the goal, but it’s not. The real goal is to create a sustainable, repeatable process that keeps you moving forward regardless of whether there’s a race on the calendar. And believe me, this part is really hard. You sign up for an event and you want to complete that event. It has taken me almost five years to "love" the process while not focusing on the event and putting all of my focus and energy on event day. I am by no means perfect, and of course I want to crush every event I enter, but the reality is... finish or not finish, I always am proud of the effort that got me to that day and I love who I become on the other side of each event.
Training for an endurance event is never linear. Some days you’ll feel strong and unstoppable; other days, you’ll question why you signed up in the first place. The secret to long-term growth is to fall in love with the process itself, the early mornings, the long runs, the recovery sessions, and the days that test your patience more than your legs.
You can’t control what happens on race day.
You can’t control the weather.
You can’t control if you trip, cramp, or face unexpected challenges.
But you can control your process, your preparation, your mindset, and your willingness to show up every single day.
When you learn to enjoy that process, you’ve already won. The race becomes an expression of all the unseen hours, a celebration of the discipline you’ve built.
Trust the process and keep moving forward
The beauty of endurance training is that it mirrors life: the reward isn’t in crossing the finish line, it’s in everything that happens on the way there.
So, if you’re thinking about taking on a challenge this year, whether it’s your first 5K, a hiking event, or an ultra-distance race remember:
· Step one: Just start. Don’t overcomplicate it. Start moving.
· Step two: Enjoy the process. That’s where growth actually happens.
Progress will come when you treat training not as a temporary project, but as a lifestyle that strengthens your body, your mind, and your mindset.
And if you ever find yourself doubting whether you can do it, remember my 2022 self who had only run a single 5K. Fast forward to now, training for UltraTrax, Mammoth March, and 29029 Mont Tremblant, and I can say with certainty: starting is the hardest part, but loving the process is what makes it worth it.
Join me: climbing for inclusion with the Kyle Pease Foundation
This year, I’m proud to be part of the Kyle Pease Foundation team, helping to create opportunities for athletes with disabilities to experience the same joy, challenge, and sense of achievement that endurance sports have given me. Every climb, every mile, and every finish line is about more than one person’s goal, it’s about inclusion, access, and community.
If this message resonates with you, I invite you to join me in climbing for inclusion. Your support helps provide adaptive equipment, race entries, and meaningful race experiences for athletes with disabilities who might not otherwise have the chance to participate.
👉 You can support my 29029 Mont Tremblant fundraising efforts for the Kyle Pease Foundation here: Donate to my Kyle Pease Foundation campaign.
Whether you donate, share the link, or simply carry this mission with you on your own training journey, you’re helping move the world toward greater inclusion, one step, one climb, and one athlete at a time.
If you want to learn more about Gavin Mlinar, check out my website: yesyourway.com.
And Don't forget to check out my book: Yes Your Way to Success! Why Don't You?