A Month of Doing Something Hard

Today starts day one of the Prospectors.

No countdown. No ceremony. Just the decision to begin.

A Prospector is named after the park where this challenge starts. One Prospector is a one-mile loop that leaves the park, drops into the lower residential streets of Hudson, Wisconsin, then climbs its way back to the start. Just over 850 feet of elevation gain per loop. One mile. No shortcuts. No mercy.

The goal is simple and not easy. Run, walk, or crawl as many Prospectors as you can in February.

Why February and Why Hard Things

February is short, cold, and uncomfortable. It’s the perfect month to stop negotiating with yourself.

Doing something hard for an entire month changes your relationship with effort. You stop chasing motivation and start relying on commitment. You learn quickly that there are days when showing up is the win.

Some days you feel strong.
Some days your legs argue with you.
Some days the hill feels personal.

All of it counts.

One Loop at a Time

The Prospectors are not about speed. They are about repetition and resolve.

Each loop forces the same question. Can you go back out again?

You descend knowing the climb is waiting. You climb knowing you chose this. And when you reach the top, you decide whether to turn around or stop.

That decision point matters more than the mileage.

Community Makes Hard Things Possible

Several friends join in on this challenge every year. We track loops. We share totals. We quietly size each other up.

Competition helps, but it’s the accountability that really works. When someone else is out there grinding through the same climb, excuses lose their power. The group pushes everyone a little further than they would go alone.

Hard things are still hard, but they’re lighter when shared.

What a Month Like This Teaches You

A month of doing something hard strips things down.

You learn that progress is uneven.
You learn that recovery matters.
You learn that discipline beats motivation almost every time.

Most of all, you learn that you’re capable of more than you think when you stop waiting for ideal conditions.

February does not care how you feel.
The hill does not negotiate.
You adapt anyway.

Day One Counts

Today is the first day of the Prospectors. It’s not about how many loops you finish this month. It’s about committing to something uncomfortable and seeing it through.

One loop. Then another. Then another.

If this mindset resonates with you, take a look at the races listed in the navigation above. Each event is designed for runners who value effort, patience, and the work that happens long before the finish line.