“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”
The road to Daylight Pass rises out of Death Valley like a wall. At 4,317 feet above sea level, it doesn’t care about your excuses, your plans, or how tough you think you are.
And I ain’t gonna lie.
This hill was tough.
It was my second day on the bike during our Death Valley Ride for Honor Flight San Diego. The first day had already been a kick in the nuts. Around mile 57 my rear derailleur broke completely off the bike. What should have been a challenging 100-mile ride with my teammates turned into a 13-hour battle just to get back to camp.
When I woke up on Day 2, I knew another ass beating was waiting for me.
The climb seemed endless.
I could have made a dozen excuses.
My foot hurt.
My legs were cramping.
I was getting dehydrated even though I was drinking water constantly.
The desert sun was relentless.
The wind never seemed to stop.
But somewhere on that climb, I let go of the excuses.
Instead, I focused on the bigger picture.
I wasn’t there for myself.
I was there to help raise funds and awareness for Honor Flight San Diego, an organization that helps veterans visit the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C.
This is the vision I put inside my mind that erased all of my pitiful excuses.
That mission was bigger than my temporary discomfort.
That mission was bigger than my sore legs.
That mission was bigger than me.
One pedal stroke at a time, I kept moving forward.
As I got closer to the summit, I could see the support vehicle waiting near the top. That simple sight gave me a boost of energy. Soon I rolled into Daylight Pass alongside my teammates.
Standing there at the summit felt good.
Not because I had conquered the mountain.
But because we had conquered it together.
Then Death Valley taught us another lesson.
The ride down should have been fast and fun. On a road bike, a descent like that can easily turn into a 30 to 40 mph thrill ride.
Instead, the wind picked up.
Hard.
Gusts reached more than 40 miles per hour. I was riding a lightweight road bike and weighing only about 165 pounds. The crosswinds were coming from multiple directions and pushing me all over the road.
What should have been a celebration became a battle.
Every second required focus.
Every gust demanded respect.
Every mile required teamwork.
You had to really focus on what you were doing and tune out all of the outside noise.
The wind increase to a dangerous level if you were on a road bike.
The race director stopped the ride for safety reasons. Part of me wanted to keep going. That’s how many endurance athletes are wired. We want to push forward. We want to grind through.
But leadership sometimes means recognizing when conditions have changed.
Safety wasn’t just about me.
It was about everyone on the road.
Looking back, that day taught me something important.
We often talk about toughness in endurance sports.
We talk about grit.
We talk about discipline.
We talk about never quitting.
But one of the biggest lessons from Death Valley was the importance of team.
My teammates encouraged me when I was struggling.
They checked on me.
They helped guide me through difficult sections.
They shared the load.
They reminded me why we were there.
Without them, there is no way I would have made it.
The same lesson applies to life.
Nobody builds a business alone.
Nobody raises a family alone.
Nobody accomplishes big goals alone.
Even Navy SEALs operate in teams. The mission always comes before the individual. When conditions get hard, you lean on the people around you.
The strongest person is not the one who never needs help.
The strongest person is the one who understands the value of the team.
Death Valley reminded me of that truth.
When the climb gets steep, lean on your teammates.
When the winds start blowing, trust your teammates.
When your excuses start talking, remember your purpose.
And when you finally reach the summit, don’t forget who helped you get there.
Your Challenge
The Endurance to Find Your Why 2026 is built around this exact principle.
Endurance events reveal who you are.
They strip away excuses.
They expose weaknesses.
Most importantly, they help you discover the deeper reason behind why you keep moving forward when things get hard.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Join a team of like-minded athletes who are committed to improving their fitness, mindset, and purpose.
Your next challenge is waiting.
Learn more about The Endurance to Find Your Why 2026 and start building the endurance, resilience, and team mindset needed to tackle your next mountain.
See you on the trail.
Stay in the fight.
About the Author
Brad McLeod is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, environmental consultant, trail builder, mountain athlete, and founder of SEALgrinderPT.
He helps athletes build physical toughness, mental resilience, and purpose through endurance challenges, functional fitness, and real-world adventure.
Brad leads training programs, mountain expeditions, and team events designed to help ordinary people accomplish extraordinary goals.
SGPT is a proud sponsor of the Navy SEAL Foundation, the UDT/SEAL Museum Charity and Honor Flight San Diego