That’s a wrap! Well almost. The 30-Day Dice Your Onion Challenge is nearing it’s end. I hope you’ve followed along and diced an onion or two. If not, check out my Instagram profile for tutorials and insights.
Something profound happened in these near 30 days. I showed up. For you. For me… In fact, this is more action than my IG account has seen in years.
Why? Because I had a WHY! A real reason to do a thing. I wanted to show up, get the 3P word out, and provide value. Moral of the story – having a WHY makes all the difference. Today, let’s find a WHY and let it move us forward!
The Cost of Comfort
Four weeks before my latest HYROX race, I faced a setback: persistent back pain. Training at 100% wasn’t an option, and I entered race day feeling rusty. But I trusted the work I’d put into my weaker areas and believed I was fit enough to compete.
Race day brought its own curveballs—a timing chip malfunction meant I had no idea how I was pacing. Still, I crossed the finish line with a new personal record of 1:06:35, placing:
- Top 3% in my age group (4th of 135 men)
- Top 3% overall (31st of 813 men)
- One of only four men aged 40-44 in the Top 35 overall.
By all measures, it was a success. But I missed the podium by five seconds—a gap that left me reflecting on one key lesson: Comfort vs. Courage
Those five seconds didn’t slip away in the wall balls or sled pull—they were lost in the runs. I chose comfort over courage, holding back instead of pushing the throttle. And it wasn’t my fitness holding me back; it was my need for control.
The what-ifs played in my mind:
- What if I push and my heart rate spikes?
- What if I fall apart?
- What if I can’t finish strong?
It reminded me of Kevin in Home Alone, standing terrified in front of the basement furnace. That fear of the unknown felt huge—until he realized it was all in his head. He stared it down and said, “I’m not afraid anymore!”
In that race, I didn’t face my furnace. I stayed comfortable, and it cost me—five seconds, a podium spot, and the deeper pride of knowing I left nothing behind.
Here’s the takeaway: growth lives on the other side of discomfort. Whether it’s in a race, your career, or your personal life, we all have moments where we let the fear of what-ifs keep us from stepping into our full potential.
This holiday season, take a page out of Kevin McCallister’s book. Identify the “furnace” in your life—the fear or control holding you back and face it. Let go of comfort. Lean into the challenge.
Because five seconds—or five moments of courage—can make all the difference.
Until next time, let’s keep peeling back the layers, facing the furnace, and running toward the best version of ourselves. — Kevin
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