Are you choosing to live a happy, fulfilled life?
That’s right, studies have proven that ninety percent of the factors that make the difference between a happy life and an unhappy life are factors within your control. One life hack proven to help unlock your best life is setting, pursuing, and achieving goals.
Yes, you can choose a happy life, but don’t take my word for it! Here’s an example of how other people – people just like you – are choosing to achieve happiness through their goals.
Are you ready for a dad joke?
I offer you this "dad joke" as a light "amuse-bouche" to entertain your mind before we get serious. My dad joke may be groan-worthy, but it's worth every penny you paid for it, right?
RIP to my boiling water… you will be mist.
Hannah’s Epic Challenge: A Massive Goal, Courage and Mindset (Interview)
Welcome to this week’s Interview with a Goal-Crusher. In these interviews, I sit down with someone accomplishing big things by setting and achieving their goals to learn their secrets. Then I share those secrets with you. It’s like free mentoring from someone already on the road to success. Who doesn’t want that?!
It was a Saturday morning, and a group of runners was on the streets of Columbus. To passers-by, they appeared just like any other group out for a run together. But there was way more to this run than the casual observer could see.
This group featured Hannah, who was doing something epic.
Hannah, a relatively new runner, was challenging herself to complete a 50-mile run.
She successfully completed her run, but that’s just part of the story. Once I learned why she took on this challenge, it amplified her epic accomplishment to a genuinely inspirational feat of goal-crushing.
Hannah’s accomplishments, mindset, and unbelievably infectious energy make her an indisputable role model for all current and future goal-crushers.
Yes, you can push yourself to pursue big goals.
No, you don’t have to have 100% certainty that you will be successful.
Yes, you can rely on others to help you achieve your goals.
I am ecstatic to share Hannah’s story as my inaugural 2025 Interview with a Goal-Crusher!
Please introduce yourself and tell my readers about you and what you do.
Hi, I’m Hannah!
I was born and raised in Schnecksville, PA, but quickly found my home in Columbus, OH, after attending THE Ohio State University as a student-athlete, where I played field hockey for four years. After graduation, I spent a few years coaching in the NCAA – two years at Kenyon College and one year at OSU.
These days, I keep busy working in the health insurance industry by day. When I’m not glued to my computer, you can find me teaching fitness classes at System of Strength, training field hockey athletes, pet-sitting, exploring the outdoors, or traveling.
Sitting still? Not exactly my strong suit, LOL!
What motivated you to attempt a 50-mile run? What was your vision? Can you share some/all of your story?
From a young age, I’ve always been active and deeply self-motivated when it comes to movement.
Running has become a source of pure joy for me (though my college coaches might be shocked to hear me say that, LOL). It wasn’t until May that I started incorporating running consistently into my weekly routine.
As someone “new” to the running community, I’ll admit I have a lot to learn, but one thing was immediately clear – running is incredibly addictive. Over just five months, I tackled weekly half-marathons, trail runs, marathons, and a 50K, and logged weekly mileage between 30-50 miles. Yet, none of it broke me down the way I was seeking.
I wanted something that would push me to my limits, maybe even cause me to fail. That’s when I set my sights on running 50 miles.
My dad’s immediate reaction was, “50 miles is too much for your body to handle unless you’re on a bicycle.” Of course, that only fueled the fire.
In October, I met with Craig from the German Village Running Club (read his story here) to discuss running ultras in 2025. When I mentioned wanting to run 50 miles, he agreed it was a solid goal for next year. But my response surprised him: “No, Craig. I want to do it before the end of this year.”
Instead of dismissing the idea as crazy, he embraced it. We picked a Saturday and went for it.
What was the first step you took to get started with your goal?
I am one strong, badass woman, and that strength starts with believing in myself.
I didn’t follow a traditional training plan – I tried, but the added stress on my body wasn’t realistic and was stealing the joy of running. In truth, I ran very little leading up to this race. Instead, I focused on cross-training and staying consistent with weekly runs, keeping my routine largely unchanged.
I approached this race not just as a physical challenge but an opportunity to break myself down and discover something new about who I am. And wow, did I ever.
What were your biggest challenges in achieving your goals? How did you overcome them?
I’ve never admitted this to anyone: I was incredibly nervous and filled with more doubts than confidence.
As someone “new” to the running world, I had endless questions, and every answer only seemed to spark more.
What do you mean I need new shoes after 250 miles?
How many GUs and chews do you eat while running?
What even is a carbon plate?
I’m supposed to follow a training program?
And how can I taper when I’m teaching so many classes at SOS?
I felt completely overwhelmed and questioned my decision right up until the night before. The one thing that got me through it all was my self-talk. My mental and physical strength is my superpower, and it’s something I’ve worked on for years and never will stop.
Many might not fully grasp the importance of nutrition, but I firmly believe that both mental and physical strength begin with what you fuel your body with.
During the 50-miler, I hit a rough patch with knee pain around miles 33-36 – a completely new experience for me. I started questioning whether I could finish. My leg was giving out unpredictably with every step, and I was genuinely scared.
Craig noticed my struggle and quickly reached out to the incredible volunteers at our next stop. Chris even made a CVS run for Advil and Biofreeze. To this day, I’m not sure if it was the Advil, the Biofreeze, or the incredible energy from the community that rallied for those final 13 miles, but the pain vanished, and we cruised to the finish.
That moment of weakness reminded me of how strong I truly am. But was all that strength mine alone? Absolutely not. I had to lean on the amazing friends around me to help lift me up – something I am not good at is asking for help.
What goal success tips and techniques have worked well for you that you would like to share with my readers?
I like to reflect on quotes/sayings to help guide me to my goals, visions, and milestones. Here are a few of my favorites that I preach daily:
- Control the controllables. We all face challenges, big or small. Always bet on yourself – it’s the only time you can control the odds.
- The secret to getting ahead is getting started.
- Live a life that excites you. Happiness is rooted in excitement, so find joy in the little things – whether it’s your morning coffee, a lunchtime walk, or an upcoming trip. And always remember, a bad day is only 24 hours.
- Everything I lose creates space for everything I need.
- How will you win if you’re too scared to take the risk?
- Committing to a vision is tough. You’ll face doubts, discomfort, and tough days. But why would you want it to be easy? The hard moments are when you learn the most about yourself. Embrace the discomfort and keep moving, one step at a time.
What is one big goal you are pursuing now?
While I have a few races lined up for 2025, one of my main goals is to ensure that running remains enjoyable.
What else would you like my Operation Melt readers to know about you, your journey or about goal success in general?
I want readers to understand the power of building a strong community around themselves.
Running 50 miles wasn’t something I accomplished on my own – it was a shared victory made possible by an extraordinary group of like-minded souls who shared in the sweat, the sacrifices, and the joy. The 2:53 am wake-ups, the protein pancakes, the countless steps taken side-by-side, the smiles, the cheers, the waves of encouragement… every single moment was infused with love and dedication. The inspiration I drew from this community is beyond words, and I still haven’t fully processed what we accomplished.
This community is a force – one that shows up for one another with unwavering support. There’s nothing more powerful than that. Every role was vital, and no task was too small. We built this, step by step, brick by brick, together.
I want readers to know that every choice I make and every situation I encounter is an opportunity to learn and grow. I strive to approach everything with purpose and intention – whether picking up a heavier dumbbell at the gym, running two extra miles, or saying “yes” to something that pushes me out of my comfort zone.
I believe I’ll never truly know my potential unless I try.
Even if an idea seems crazy, I’m committed to finding ways to improve by 1% each day.
How can people learn more about you?
You want to learn more about me?! I would LOVE to learn about you!
You can follow my fitness journey on my social media – Instagram: @HannahPany, meet me at German Village Run Club, or maybe try one of my classes at my second home – System of Strength 🙂
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Now… back to this post…
I hope you found Hannah’s story as inspirational and motivational as I did!
Here are a few of the most inspirational highlights from Hannah:
- She set a big goal: “I wanted something that would push me to my limits, maybe even cause me to fail.” She wanted to challenge herself, wasn’t 100% sure she would succeed and welcomed failure if that happened.
- She was courageous: “I felt completely overwhelmed and questioned my decision right up until the night before.” It’s not that she wasn’t scared, but she pushed through her fear and did it anyway.
- Her positive self-talk: “I am one strong, badass woman, and that strength starts with believing in myself.” How often do we talk negatively about or attempt to minimize ourselves when we speak? Not Hannah. And she’s not exaggerating!
- She challenges auto-pilot thinking: “Every situation I encounter is an opportunity to learn and grow. I strive to approach everything with purpose and intention.” How often do we hold ourselves back by not being intentional with our actions?
Most of all, Hannah did epic shit while employing Project Manage Your Life strategies.
- Commit to SMART goals: Hannah knew precisely what she wanted to do when she wanted to do it and why it was important to her. Then, she committed and took action.
- Build a plan that works for you: Hannah quickly determined someone else’s structured training plan wasn’t what she needed. Instead, she did things her way, following a plan she knew would work for her.
- Measure progress every day: Hannah knew how much and how fast she was running during training, how much cross-training she was doing and where her mindset was.
- Expect and plan ahead for problems: Hannah was not afraid of failure. She proactively managed her mindset and embraced curiosity to ensure she was as prepared as can be. Then, she relied on her community to help when needed.
- Don’t go it alone: Hannah’s story was one of community. From helping build her confidence and motivation to supporting her when pain flared up, the German Village Running Club community was essential to her success. Several club members even ran a portion of the run with her… fifty miles would be a lonely solo endeavor.
- Enjoy the journey: I can tell you personally that Hannah enjoys her journey and isn’t delaying her happiness until she crosses a future finish line. She is always smiling and positive and loves running with the community. Plus, she fills her days with her passions for movement, coaching and helping others.
Did you find Hannah’s story inspirational?
Are you following Hannah’s example and challenging yourself to think big when setting your own goals?
How are you managing your mindset?
How are you Project Managing Your Life and crushing your goals?
Are you ready to make 2025 your best year yet?
Is it time to find a partner to help you set big goals and build a plan to crush them? I am a certified master life coach specializing in helping project managers and other left-brained high achievers crush their goals. It would be my honor to work with you to help you use my Project Manage Your Life process to make your dreams come true. Let’s work together to keep your goals from dying of loneliness.
I believe in you; let me help YOU believe in you!
Calling All Goal-Crushers…
Do you have a story of goal-crushing that you are willing to share? Do you know another goal-crusher whose story should be shared? I am always looking for new Interview with a Goal-Crusher candidates. Hit me up and let me know who I should be talking to.
Meet Coach Tony
My name is Coach Tony, and I am a coach, author and project manager on a mission. I am working to build a world where no goal ever dies of loneliness.
I almost allowed one of my biggest life goals to die without ever being attempted for forty years. My goal almost died, not of failure but of loneliness. But, I took a risk and leveraged a simple, logical process that helped me wildly exceed my goal.
I transformed my life, and you can do the same with the help of Operation Melt.
Operation Melt provides engaging, practical content and hands-on coaching to inspire, motivate and equip project managers and other left-brained high-achievers to pursue and accomplish their biggest goals.
Breathe new life into your goals
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