The Body Follows the Mind – Volume 2: William Goodge
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"The beautiful thing about running is sometimes I don't think about anything, I get lost, it feels meditative. Whatever happens when I'm out there putting one foot in front of the other, when I finish the run I always feel better, more calm..."
William Goodge
William Goodge, an Ultra Runner from the UK, recently became a source of inspiration in the running world when he ran across the United States in just 55 days to raise money for cancer charities in honor of his late mother who passed away from cancer in 2018. His drive, mindset, and dedication to his sport are beyond impressive and truly exemplify what is possible when you push past your inner limits and embrace that connection between mind and body.
The archetype of an Ultra Runner is a slender, nature loving, traditional running background with a singular focus on their sport and breaking world records. These traits don’t hold true for William Goodge whose jet setting lifestyle, diverse interests, deep motivations, unique style, and muscled physique defy convention. The former UK rugby player and model has become one of the most accomplished Ultra Runners while traveling the world living his aspirational lifestyle while pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
William’s career as an Ultra Runner was motivated by the death of his mom from cancer coupled with an end to his career playing professional rugby due to head injuries. Will unexpectedly took up running (something he hated to do) as a coping mechanism to make him feel better and regain a healthy mindset. When we asked Will how running had impacted his mental health he shared that, “Running gave me ultimate space to think through things without distraction. It handed me a usable physical outlet for energy I had stemming from an emotional place. There is something about moving whilst considering bigger questions or thoughts that feels more progressive to me. Progress in anything requires movement towards something or change, so when I am struggling being stagnant is when I feel like thoughts or scenarios play out over and over without resolution. The beautiful thing about running is sometimes I don't think about anything, I get lost, it feels meditative. Whatever happens when I'm out there putting one foot in front of the other, when I finish the run I always feel better, more calm, or have come to a more sound decision about something.”
Watching William's running career and what he has been able to conquer (so far) has been nothing short of incredible. The sky is seemingly the limit for Will and he stands as a true example of what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it. When you conquer the mind, the body follows.
When we asked Will what the most significant lesson is that he's learned from his experiences running he said, "There is a simple question I ask myself that has taken me further than I could ever have imagined and it transfers to the rest of life. 'Can I take another step forward?' and the answer is always yes. In any race or challenge it's very rare another step is impossible. In life that step forward is equally simple, any kind of progress is still progress."
