Excuses Don't Win

Guest Post - Nat Galloway

The greatest people I’ve ever met—the ones I genuinely look up to aren’t the ones who had an easy path. They’re the ones who had every excuse in the world to give up… and didn’t.

I remember my first day in the battalion after passing training. It was 7 am, and the whole company of 60 guys was lined up for morning PT: an 8km run over undulating hills—quite the welcome.

About 3km in, I noticed something strange about one of the guys ahead of me. Where his calves were supposed to be, there was just… nothing. Flat. Scars. Lots of them. He was one of the older guys, incredibly respected, and had already done two tours.

When I asked my senior partner about it after the run, he told me this man’s story: during his first tour, he was shot through the leg, tearing both calf muscles off. Yet here he was, keeping pace with the rest of us. He never asked for help or special treatment. He just… kept going. No excuses.

It hit me then: everyone has excuses—some worse than others. I’d read about people like Mark Ormrod, a Royal Marine who became a triple amputee and went on to represent Great Britain as an athlete. Imagine if he’d let his excuses win. He wouldn’t be where he is today.

Here’s what I see when I compare those who struggle to reach their goals with those who succeed: excuses.

We all have them. But there’s almost always someone with a bigger excuse than you… who’s still getting it done. Especially in training and competition, you’re not just competing against yourself—you’re competing against others who also have excuses. The winner is the one who refuses to let theirs win.

The men and women I’ve told you about didn’t let injury, pain, or setbacks stop them—and neither should you. Their strength came from refusing to let excuses win. If you’re ready to take that same approach with your own training, book a call with me or one of our coaches at www.masterathletic.com. Together, we’ll build a plan that keeps you moving forward, no matter what stands in your way.

Nat Galloway

Coach, Master Athletic Performance