Resetting After a Letdown

Not every performance goes as planned.

My daughter (Logan Jolly) recently ran the 3000m Steeplechase at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, OR. This was a big stage—one she had trained and sacrificed for. But the outcome? It didn’t match the hope.

And she wasn’t alone.

The race featured elite athletes—Courtney Wayment and Val Constien, fresh off the Olympic stage in Paris, and Gabbi Jennings, who’s been thriving all season long. They were the heavy favorites. But even they didn’t have the race they were hoping for. (Congratulations to Lexy Halladay‑Lowry for an outstanding, well‑executed race and win!)

We were there. We watched it all unfold. And what stood out wasn’t just who crossed the finish line first—it was the reminder that racing, like life, is unpredictable.

Every race is a play in motion. Each lap is a new chapter. And the stage... It’s flat. Meaning anyone—on any given day—can decide to take the risk to lead, to push, to write their own story.

But when that moment doesn’t unfold the way you imagined...You reset.

You don’t have to be the star of this race to still be headed toward something meaningful.

After a tough race—or a tough meeting, audition, exam, or conversation—it’s tempting to question your place on the stage. But sometimes the best thing you can do is… unplug.

Think about it: how many times have you fixed a device—a printer, a router, a phone—by simply powering it down, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it back in?

Sometimes we need the same thing.

So take the time to reset. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.

The stage isn’t going anywhere. The story isn’t over.

And when the next race comes, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and more grounded than before.

Keep showing up.Because sometimes the most powerful lap is the one that comes after the reset.

Photo: Arkansas Razorback Track & Field and Cross Country Social Media