5 Things Learnt Running a Marathon

I ran a Marathon last weekend. It was gloriously painful. But I enjoyed every minute of the preparation and the race.

Photo by Isaac Wendland on Unsplash

Here are my five learning points:

1. Patience: preparing the body for the rigors of a Marathon takes time. But the body will adapt. Be patient with your body, and it will reward you with greater strength and stamina.
2. Process: trust the process. Set a plan, and consistently stick to it. If you do miss the odd session, don’t panic and try and catch up, just let it go. 80% completion is good enough.
3. Resolve: training for a Marathon is kinda boring. There are no fireworks, and no stirring music. You just gotta stick with it.
4. Presence: Be present and mindful. Present of your surroundings and company, relax and enjoy it. And mindful of your body. External and internal.
5. Progress: the race is only a test. The real reward is progress. Progress achieved through the patient application of the process, with resolve and presence.

My recommendation? It’s a challenge worth doing. Enjoy it.