Grit - A Meaningless Word

Grit - A Meaningless Word

Nora Fierman

Since I finished the Mega Epic last week, a lot of people have been telling me how much grit I have. They’ve been telling me they are seriously impressed with my perseverance and grit. That they would have quit. That finishing despite all these challenges is seriously gritty.
(Might be helpful to read the full Mega Epic story here for context!).

I had some friends over for dinner who did the Breck Epic to celebrate our collective successes and we were discussing grit, which made me think deeply about the word. 

That word has been thrown around so much recently, I don’t even know what it means anymore. Grit felt like a meaningless word. 

So I looked up grit and here’s what the Oxford English Dictionary says: 

Definition of Grit

  1. Small pieces of stone or sand: This is the most literal definition, referring to hard, sharp granules. 

  2. Courage and strength of mind: This figurative sense describes the mental fortitude that allows someone to persevere through adversity or unpleasant situations. 

I became numb to the word grit. I didn’t want to be described as gritty. In my head, I just imagined having sand in your mouth, the literal definition of grit.

I didn’t want to be described as gritty because it felt like it took what I had done and turned it into something outside of my control. What about the people who dropped everything to help me? Switched my bottles, brought me food, texted me, rubbed my back, and held my hand. Grit only described me, it didn’t describe what happened behind the scenes. 

I also didn’t want to acknowledge the word because as I was riding my bike 220 miles, I couldn’t help but think about how stupid this all was. Why would I want to ride my bike in circles for 220 miles, grinding myself down, unable to comprehend anything other than pedal, pedal, pedal. That to me didn’t feel like grit, that felt like abusing my body. Masochistic. Selfish. 

I didn't really feel like I was digging deep during the race, I more so felt like I was fighting my own mind. When I was tired to the point of sleeping on a dirt road, I didn’t feel like I was searching for more energy. I was just doing this stupid thing because I wanted to. I can keep going, or I can stop. It was my choice. That wasn’t grit, what was selfish determination. 

If I wasn’t digging deep, then why did I suffer, why did I hit low points?

I was fighting a mental battle. 

I surrendered to the privilege and luck of having the support system I had. 

I got curious. I’m a very curious person, that’s a lot of what drives me. 

Can I keep going, yes or no. 

Can I do this next segment, yes or no. 

Can I finish for the others who have given me so much these last two days, yes or no. 

Can I do it for them, yes or no. 

Can I find my outer limits, yes or no. 

So let’s go back to the relevant definition of grit here:

Courage and strength of mind: This figurative sense describes the mental fortitude that allows someone to persevere through adversity or unpleasant situations. 

Now that I’ve had time to sit with what I’ve done, I’ve learned a lot. While the finish was a magical moment, one I won’t soon forget, what I’m most proud of is the two days to get to the finish line. Surrendering myself to others, asking for help (which I suck at!), allowing my mind to be empty and free even after a brutal first 5 hours. Realizing just how loved I am.

I’m still not sure why I finished or how, I’m not sure why my mind went from eruption to calm. 

I’m not sure why my legs held up like they did. 

I think I was rejecting the word grit because that definition has always come naturally to me. I’ve always been someone who embraces searching for my boundaries and pushing them a little further. I like change and I love being uncomfortable. I love challenging myself, like with building Neve. Which by the way, the journey of building Neve makes the Mega Epic emotional roller coaster look easy!  

Looking at the definition of grit, I think I need to surrender to that as well. I guess grit is a pretty accurate word to describe what I just did.

And to be honest, I’m already craving that feeling of wondering how far I can go.

You can read the full Mega Epic recap here!

Back to blog

Leave a comment