Marathons Are Microcosms of Life

Between trying to consume as much fuel as possible and catching my breath wherever I can, I find that I do my best thinking on a long run. On my last long run (the marathon itself) I remember thinking about how poetic it all was. Most people spent months trying to fit their already full lives around a large and awkwardly shaped training block, just so they could run around for a few hours and get a medal for it. Poetic, right?

Fortunately, the experience was much richer and more meaningful than that. I’ll share a few of my takeaways, and who knows, maybe by the end of this, you’ll be tempted to go on your own marathon journey.

Find the joy in it

I spent years telling anyone who would listen how much I hated running. I was grateful for it because it helped me almost completely control my asthma, but running itself? Not cute.

When I started this training block, I promised myself that I’d only speak positively about my runs - especially during those early mornings when it was still dark outside. And you know what? That made a difference. In life, I try to do the same with things I’m not naturally excited about. There’s joy to be found in… most things.

Be prepared

The marathon is unforgiving. It’s incredibly difficult to hide a lack of preparation.

During my first marathon block a few years ago, I thought I could skip all the hills. I’d choose flat routes or walk up anything steep, assuming the race would be flatter. I skipped strength training, thinking the running alone would be enough.

It wasn’t.

This isn’t too different from life. When you put in the hours beforehand, you’re ready when it counts. The small things are important. Tedious prep matters, even if you don’t get an instant dopamine hit.

Each area of your life is a domino

Marathon training takes over your life. You can’t make a decision without thinking about how it affects your running. What you eat, when you sleep, when you see friends, how you travel.

Life works the same way. I’ve come to believe that we’re the sum of all the parts of our lives. If I want to have a great career, I need to care for my health, relationships, and spiritual life too. These areas are like dominoes, if one falls, the rest often follow.

It doesn’t always go to plan

This one's hard, especially when you’ve done everything “right” and still don’t get the outcome you wanted. Some days just aren’t your day. And that’s okay too.

I’m fortunate to believe in God, which means I trust that even in the good, the bad, and the ugly, His good plan will prevail. That doesn’t mean bypassing disappointment. It’s important to sit in the anger or sadness because those are God-given emotions too. But in time, I’ve always found something to give thanks for. Even just being able to train for a marathon is a privilege.

It’s always better with community

This one speaks for itself. Running isn’t the most exciting activity (unless it's the 100m or the 4x100 relay), but doing it with others? That’s priceless. Sharing the highs and lows. Learning from those ahead of you. Encouraging those just starting out. It all makes the journey more meaningful.

I had to do 99% of my marathon training alone, and I definitely felt the mental toll of not having in-person support. But I built systems to hold me up when my willpower let me down. I also wasn’t afraid to ask for help. I regularly called trusted coaches when I had questions. You don’t need to know everything. You’re not even supposed to.

Hard things are just a series of easy things

Yes, even a marathon. You can think of it as 42.2km, as eight 5Ks or four 10Ks (with a little extra). Some people pace it by playlist. However you slice it, big challenges become doable when you break them into parts. It’s the same with life. Huge problems are just a collection of smaller, more manageable ones. Start there.

Training for and running a marathon taught me more than just endurance. It reminded me of the beauty in routine, the value of preparation, and the joy of pushing yourself, even when no one is watching. Life, like a marathon, is long, unpredictable, and full of small wins along the way. You might surprise yourself with what you're capable of... if you're willing to take the first step.