While I have participated in athletics pretty much all of my life, I have never considered myself to be a runner. However, in early July 2002 while living in Chicago, I decided to train for three months and run the Chicago marathon. I ended up finishing in 4 hours, 54 minutes, and 9 seconds.
Here are 7 life lessons I learned from running the marathon:
1. Nobody succeeds alone
While running a marathon might seem like an individual accomplishment, I relied heavily on other people throughout the process.
It started with getting really good advice from other people who had run marathons before. I bought a book that was written for first-time marathoners. I followed the suggestions in the book very closely throughout my training. I also got several very helpful tips from a co-worker who had already run the Chicago marathon multiple times.
Furthermore, my friends and co-workers were extremely supportive throughout my training. I did my long runs on Sunday mornings and it seemed like every Monday at work somebody was asking me how many miles I had run the day before. They were so supportive that it felt like they were training along with me.
And during the day of the race, thousands of people lined the streets to cheer everybody on. This was extremely motivating! I remember giving lots of “high fives” to so many people that I didn’t even know.
Without all of the support that I got from other people, I am certain it would have taken me a lot longer to complete the run. And it is quite possible that I might not have finished at all.
I have also found that this is true in life. I can’t think of any significant achievement in my life that was accomplished all by myself.
2. The training is the real marathon
I was told by others that the actual marathon is really a celebration of all of the training you have done. This turned out to be exactly right.
I stayed quite motivated throughout most of my three months of training. However, there were definitely some very challenging times. I remember several times not wanting to get up and run at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, especially when the Chicago weather was not good!
And some of the 15, 17, and 20-mile training runs were nearly as difficult as the marathon itself, because I was constantly running more miles at one time than I ever had in the past.
In life, I think people win or lose based on what they do every single day. While everything may appear to happen on one day during the big event (e.g. a sales presentation with a client), the preparation for the event is what is most important.
3. You will hit “the wall” (and you will just have to find a way to make it through)
During my training, I often wondered if what people said about hitting “the wall” around mile 20 was true. I can tell you that it is!
The most I ran during training was 22 miles. And this was very tough. However, there is a big difference when you reach mile 20 and you still have 6.2 miles to go.
During the marathon, I actually felt really good around mile 17. I remember thinking to myself, “This isn’t so bad, I may start speeding up, so I can finish even faster.” Boy, was I wrong!
Around that time, I ran past a friend of mine and waved to him very enthusiastically. He was standing in a place where you could watch people running by at mile around 17 on one side and then walk a few feet to see people running at around mile 20 or 22.
By the time I saw him again on the other side, everything had completely changed. I was totally exhausted. When he saw me, he was yelling, “Go, Greg, go!!!” very loudly. While he didn’t hear me since he was cheering so loudly, I said in despair “I don’t know if I can finish.”
Fortunately, I did complete the marathon. But I can tell you that the last hour of the run was probably the longest hour of my life!
I have found that I have also hit “the wall” pretty much every time I have tried to accomplish something significant in my life. You just have to put one foot in front of the other until you reach the finish line. Perhaps this is simply the price you have to pay to accomplish big things.
4. Don’t start off too fast – Consistency is key
The training the week before the marathon is very light. Therefore, by race day, your body is just begging for exercise. And you are obviously extremely excited about the event since the atmosphere is so electric. I think 30,000 people participated in the Chicago marathon the year I ran it.
As a result, it is extremely tempting to want to start off the race by running really fast. But I told myself that I was going to take it slow at the beginning, because I knew I would need the energy later in the race. For the first 6-7 miles, I felt like I was running really slowly. However, I’m glad I did this, because it took every ounce of energy that I had to finish the marathon.
After the race was over, I checked my time at the halfway point and it was very close to half the time it took me to complete the entire run. I was very pleased that I ran so consistently throughout the race.
In life, I have also found that taking things day-to-day and consistently moving in the right direction is the best way to go. Otherwise, you risk getting burned out.
5. Somebody always has it worse than you
During mile 23 or 24, I was getting really frustrated. Every mile felt like three miles. Though it will sound crazy, I even began to think they were moving the mile markers back and making us all run longer!
Around that time, I looked to my left and noticed a guy beside me that was running with a metal artificial leg that went from one of his knees down. This is all it took for me to quickly get an attitude adjustment. I thought to myself, “If he can run with a metal artificial leg, then you have absolutely nothing to complain about.”
In life, we can feel like our troubles are too difficult to overcome. But let me tell you, there is always somebody out there who has it worse. And if they can make it, then so can you.
6. If you do your best, you will have absolutely no regrets
I finished the marathon in just under five hours. My main goal was just to finish, but I also hoped to complete the race in less than five hours. Therefore, I accomplished both of my goals.
However, the best marathoners in the world only take a little more than two hours to finish the race. While I could never come close to running this fast, I have always felt really good about the marathon, because I did the absolute best that I could.
I am 6 foot, 3 inches tall and weigh 200 pounds which is much too big to be a competitive runner. My main passion when it comes to exercising is weightlifting which I have done for over 20 years since I was 15. The funny part is that I will never come close to being the strongest guy in the gym, because I am too small and thin!
But this doesn’t bother me either, because I know I’m doing the best I can.
In life, there is a peace and contentment that comes from doing the best you can no matter what happens. This is all you can control and all you can ever ask of yourself.
7. The most powerful people in the world are the ones who believe in themselves
The day before the marathon, I was talking to somebody close to me about it. This person asked me:
“What are you going to do if you don’t finish?”
I was quite startled when I heard this question. Not once during my entire three months of training did I think that I would not finish the marathon. And quite honestly, I took it very personally that somebody would even ask me this question. Therefore, I responded by saying (with a little attitude!):
“One of two things is going to happen tomorrow. Either I’m going to finish the marathon or I will be in a wooden box.”
And I meant it, too! Nothing was going to stop me from finishing that race.
The point is that I believed in myself from the time I decided to run the marathon until I finished it. There was never any question in my mind what the outcome was going to be.
In life, I have found that the most successful people are the ones who believe in themselves and then go out and take action that backs up this belief.
This is why having the right thoughts is so important. Because like Steven’s blog title says, change your thoughts and you can change your life.
[Photo credit: Metaxin]
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Hi Greg
Welcome to the CYT community of writers, which is growing at a rapid rate.
I think this is a great article and shows how you approach your life as well which is good to see. I can totally relate to hitting the wall with regards to life’s events and it made me really think about what is happening in my own life jjust now, your article was a little shout from the side lines ‘Keep going, you can do it’, so thank you for that.
Great article Greg and thanks again for writing for CYT and hope to see you back again soon.
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate the opportunity to guest post at Change Your Thoughts. I had a really good time writing this article and remembering my marathon experience. I hope your readers enjoy it.
I’m glad the article has provided some inspiration with your upcoming project. I imagine you are probably at about mile 20 right now! Just keep going, you are going to make it!!!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Thanks, Greg.
This is one of most inspiring articles on life lessons that I’ve read for so long. Especially love the #2, “The training is the real marathon”, so true!
Hi Harry,
Thanks so much, I’m glad you enjoyed the article (and, in particular, lesson #2).
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hey Greg,
Thanks for this post. I just started I workout program and I’ve been looking for some advice to make it more effective and keep me going. I’m not very used to daily physical effort, so I tend to slack off.
I found your point about not starting off too fast to be really important. I think a lot of us tend to jump right into something, then eventually loose some of the momentum and quit as a result.
Hey Eduard,
It is usually quite easy to get motivated when first starting a new project. There is a lot of excitement during this time. But you can indeed run out of steam if you go too fast at the beginning.
The best piece of advice I can give about working out is to find an activity involving exercise that you love doing. This is so important. Fortunately, there are so many activities that most people can find at least one that they enjoy. This helps keep you motivated over the long term since the activity is fun and not a chore.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg! Very nice article! I especially like the second point. Training is really the hardest part as when you accomplish it it’s already easier for you achieve this goal, but if you are training you are not ready for this and it very hard. I like it!
.-= Roman Soluk´s last blog ..Simple guide to a healthy weight loss =-.
Hi Roman,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you like the second point.
I remember my high school basketball coach telling me that he had never seen anybody do anything in a game that they hadn’t done at practice. It’s a reminder that what happens in the game (or whatever the “big event” is) is just a reflection of all of the preparation that has been done.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Absolutely love the analogy of the marathon for life, business, spirituality. I’m planning on running a marathon myself next year, having run a 5K for the first time last year. Success is definitely in the training, in the belief you have in yourself, and in making it through the wall during times of adversity.
.-= Steve-Personal Success Factors´s last blog ..Anthony Robbins, Michael Jordan, and the Meaning of Life =-.
Hey Steve,
It’s great to hear that you love the analogy. I wish you the best with your marathon next year. I think it will be an incredible experience for you. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you ever have any questions about it.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hey Greg. Thanks for sharing your experience running at the marathon. Honestly, I thought they were like under 10 miles, but when you said you were at the 17th mile going on the 20th which 6.2 miles left to go, I was like, “Wow… this is crazy!” The most I’ve ever ran was a 3 mile race in cross country for high school and I thought that was exhausting. I really enjoyed this though. Consistency is key!
.-= Hulbert Lee´s last blog ..Devotion – Elizabeth Gilbert =-.
Hey Hulbert,
A marathon is definitely a long run! But the most I had ever run before I started training for the marathon was about 5 miles. And I worked my way up to 26.2 miles in three months. It’s kind of hard to explain, but you get into a groove when running long distances. You sort of get lost in the moment and time seems to stop. And I remember 8 miles feeling like nothing after I had run 18 or 20 miles in training!
Thanks for the kind words!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg,
Running a marathon is such a great metaphor for life. I can see now that any great personal achievement can be broken down into the parts mentioned above. I love it when you say, “Either I’m going to finish the marathon or I will be in a wooden box.” With a deep belief like this one cannot lose. It is a deep sense of KNOWING it shall be so. We have not done it yet, but we KNOW it has to happen.
If you run the Boston Marathon next year I will be sure to cheer you along!
Hey Rob,
Thanks so much for the comment.
Honestly, the “Either I’m going to finish the marathon or I will be in a wooden box” line was my favorite part of the article. I still get fired up when I think about saying that. Like you said, you just can’t lose when you really KNOW that something is going to happen.
I think I’ve heard that you have to run pretty fast to qualify for the Boston marathon. But I’m really glad you would be there to cheer me on if I were fast enough to run in it!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg.
Training sure is the real marathon. I figured this out the slow way.
There was a class I would go to at one point, where I would not prepare for the in-class questioning beforehand, and would want to learn the material during class. I would usually look clueless answering questions because I had not prepared for the questioning. The teacher was trying to teach everyone that the important part of the in-class questioning was the at-home reading.
This is the case all over the place. A person who speaks in front of an audience is heavily judged based on their past and their certifications and whatnot, and their actual speech is not weighted as heavily. This is obviously the wrong way to go, because the speaker could have value to provide regardless of their experience or past, but that is another issue.
Cool lessons.
.-= Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..Say More Of That Which Is On Your Mind =-.
Thanks, Armen!
The time spent in preparation and training is indeed so important. I’ve found that everything slows down during the “big event” whenever I have prepared/trained properly. And it’s much easier to relax.
Furthermore, you make a great point about people who speak in front of an audience being judged a lot on their credentials instead of totally on their speech.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg,
This is a wonderful post, it’s hard to pick a favourite from your 7 life lessons. However, my son is doing some important tests at school at the moment, so the comment that resonated the most with me was “In life, there is a peace and contentment that comes from doing the best you can no matter what happens. ” That’s the advice I’ve given my son!
Topi
.-= Topi´s last blog ..A Mother’s Day to cherish =-.
Hi Topi,
Thanks for the comment.
I’m really glad you liked the part about there being a peace and contentment about doing the best you can. I find it so liberating to just focus on doing the best I can and not worry about other things. I’ve found that I free up a lot of mental energy by doing this.
I hope your son does well on his tests!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg!
Alright, I realize I’m late. Sorry! It’s been insane for me.
“Though it will sound crazy, I even began to think they were moving the mile markers back and making us all run longer!”–Greg
I really enjoyed hearing this.. mostly because your example above directly correlates with most struggles we face in life. How our mind starts playing tricks on us, trying to make us believe that it’s impossible, that we should give in to the pain. But that’s when we look around us, at the people who have and are doing it(like the guy with the metal leg), and it makes us realize that the best accomplishments aren’t gong to come easy.
Good job and congrats Greg!
–Parker
.-= Parker Lee´s last blog ..What Your Father Never Taught you–About Fitting In.. .. =-.
Hi Parker,
You’re right on time! And I really appreciate the kind words.
I’m glad you liked that part of the article. That was during the last hour of the marathon and I was extremely tired at the time. It’s interesting how the miles at the beginning of the marathon felt much shorter than the miles at the end of the marathon.
But like you said, this is quite common when pursuing things in life. You just have to find a way to push through to achieve your goal.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Hi Greg, what a great guest post! I’ll be running the marathon next year so these tips will all come in handy.
I love point two…The has always been the case for me when I’ve done long distance running in the past and the main event was the celebration.
Point three – hitting the wall, I’ve been there too! On the second occasion of running the half marathon I hit a massive wall and the only thing that really got me through was sheer will…my body literally had nothing left to give and it was only through that absolute push that I managed to complete it.
Point four – I’ve been saying that to people for ages so it’s great to hear that someone agrees with me! I always start off very slowly and build gradually. It’s the only sensible way to go with long distance running.
I’ve made the same mistake as you in the past of feeling good at a particular marker and then speeding up only to regret it later…that too is another valuable lesson.
Fantastic piece!
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..Video – How To Be A Great Mentor =-.
Hi Amit,
Thanks a bunch. I’m really glad you enjoyed the post.
I’m happy to hear you will be running a marathon next year. If you ever have any questions, just let me know.
I’m glad you like point 2. It’s interesting how this has been the one that people like most. I’ve found it to be very true.
I can relate to your experience of hitting the wall. It’s difficult to explain. It’s something you just have to experience. And you know exactly what it feels like.
I think I might have had to start walking at the end of the marathon if I didn’t practice point 4. I barely had anything left at the end.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
My pleasure and also welcome the the CYT community of writers!
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..Video – How To Be A Great Mentor =-.
Thanks, Amit!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
Hi Greg, I’m glad I found your site. This is a great post – a terrific metaphor for dealing with all sorts of challenges in one’s life – even for us non-runners! Thank you.
.-= Angela Artemis´s last blog ..A Thank You Note And a Letter To My Readers - =-.
Hi Angela,
Thanks so much for the kind words. It’s indeed interesting how these lessons apply to life in general. And I appreciate your stopping by my site!
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..My personal 30-day money challenge starts next Monday on May 10th =-.
Congratulations on finishing the marathon, Greg. One more item to be crossed off the life-list, eh?
I laughted at this line: ““One of two things is going to happen tomorrow. Either I’m going to finish the marathon or I will be in a wooden box.” Nothing like determination to see you through to the end.
You made some really great points related to completing any endurance tasks, whether it’s a project or work task or marathon or even blogging. I enjoyed the article.
Thanks,
Karen
.-= Karen´s last blog ..How to Stop Thinking and Start Doing – Guest Post =-.
Hey Karen,
Yes, one more item crossed off the list!
I really loved that line, too. I wasn’t thrilled when I was asked what I would do if I didn’t finish the marathon and that is what came out without my thinking about it!
And you make a great point about how these lessons could apply to blogging.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
Greg -
Brilliant article – I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just ran the London Marathon and echo a lot of your thoughts. The training was actually harder than the actual race – it required dedication, focus and going to a deeper place than I thought I could. On the day, I loved every stride and did the best I could (I also hit the wall around mile 21). I didn’t quite get my time, but I did enjoy every second of the race and that is the most important. Great stuff!
Phil
.-= phil – Less Ordinary Living´s last blog ..Secrets to your Successful Career – Part 2 =-.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the comment.
I’m so happy to hear that you recently completed the London Marathon and that you had such an incredible experience. I know exactly what you mean when you say that your training required “going to a deeper place than I thought I could.”
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
Very well said Greg. Though I am not a marathoner I can very well relate it to my everyday life and this inspires me to keep going. Truly a good piece of writing. Thank you for that..
Hi Veera,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the kind words. It feels great to hear that the article inspires you to keep going in your life.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
Great article Greg. The beautiful thing is that once you’ve done it, the experience reinforces these lessons learned and so many more throughout your life. I did a [mini] triathlon (ocean swim 2, bike 10, run 5) a number of years ago and it was truly a life-changing accomplishment. A friend signed me up 3 days before the race b/c he believed my usual level of physical activities was more than sufficient training to race. While I did not specifically go through months of training, I was as dedicated to my daily physical fitness routine as any runner in training. My goal was simply to finish. I did and it was an AMAZING boost to my self-esteem… one I still benefit from today! I do believe I can do anything with the right mindset and perserverence. Thanks for the reminder and wonderful lessons!
.-= Maggie Mae´s last blog ..Quote of the Day! =-.
Hi Maggie,
Thanks, I’m really glad you enjoyed the article. And congratulations on completing the mini triathlon.
I think you make a great point about the experience having lasting benefits. I know when I am having a tough workout (weightlifting or running), I will think back to my marathon experience and remind myself that I have been through much worse.
And I agree that the self-esteem boost from accomplishing a tough task can be incredible. I still take a lot of pride in the marathon even though it was nearly eight years ago.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
I can relate your point about taking it slow at the start. I notice that often when I begin my day at a relaxed mode, I find myself having a sufficient amount of energy to do the last tasks of the day.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..Do Blind People Use a Special Keyboard? =-.
Hi Julius,
Thanks for the comment.
I’ve found it definitely helps me to not start off too fast. It allows you to have the energy needed to make it through to the end of the day or the end of a long run.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
I like this point “The most powerful people in the world are the ones who believe in themselves” inspiring
.-= ZenyLife´s last blog ..Becoming Your Best Self =-.
Thanks, ZenyLife. I’m glad you like that point.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..(YouTube video) 30-day money challenge: Day 9 – Money manifestation! =-.
Hello,
Firstly well done! I found this post really inspirational, and a couple of the points hit home to me, particularly about not succeeding on your own. I am terrible for wanting to do everything myself and right now! I have been really working hard on letting go, and while I am getting there, it is great to have a reminder about it.
Many thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate,
Thanks so much. I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed the post.
I think one issue with high achievers is that while they accomplish a lot by doing so much on their own, they still need to rely on other people to get things done. And it can be difficult to both take control and look for help from others.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 1 – Deciding what you want, vision boards, and law of attraction journals =-.
Marathon runners are truly dedicated. Learning how to live a healthier lifestyles is probably another learning experience from being involved in a marathon. Besides the actual training, the education needed on the diet side of things is of huge benefit.
.-= Colleen´s last blog ..North Richland Washington Homes For Sale and Real Estate =-.
Hi Colleen,
You make a great point about the importance of healthy eating. Thanks for the comment.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 2 – Seeing lots of Toyota Priuses, dealing with negative thoughts about money, and coming up with an initial investment plan =-.
Your timing is awesome as I am considering running a mini-marathon and from there going on to a marathon…at the same time I am learning the importance of the journey of life and the “training” that we go through to reach what we are striving for. Point #2 explains this so well. The big event (completing the marathon or reaching a goal) is just the culmination of day after day of learning, preparing, & working towards it. Looking back it may actually be the easiest part! Thx for sharing!
jbledsoejr,
You’re very welcome! I wish you the best with the mini-marathon and marathon if you decide to run them. Just let me know if you have any questions. And I’m glad you liked point #2.
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..30-day money challenge: Day 14 – The power of visualization =-.
Greg, wonderful post. Im starting out on my own venture and this really touched a nerve somewhere. Have marked it as unread (Google reader) as I need to come back to this in a few days, weeks, months… Best,
Salman,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. And I wish you the best with your new venture!
These are great tips! I just ran my first half marathon and couldn’t agree more with #2.
Jeff Goins recently posted..Lessons About Writing and Life from Training for a Half Marathon
Thanks, Jeff! And congrats on finishing your first half marathon. Very exciting!
Greg, thanks for an excellent article. I have one more tip to add that spans across a few of yours and that is maintain a positive mindset – and this applies equally in training as well as to the actual marathon itself. If you can see yourself at the finish line – even if it’s just in your mind, you’re increasing your chances of actually achieving it.
For me, the battle has always been consistency!
Mistry recently posted..Road to somewhere
Thanks, Mistry! And I completely agree that a positive mindset is very important.