10 lessons from my London 10k run

A few years ago, I would have never thought I’d run not one, but two races. I've always struggled with the idea of being good at sports, something I’ve talked about in a previous post.

After years of enjoying running (with its ups and downs, of course) and seeing the benefits of exercise, I decided to challenge myself with my second race: the Saucony London 10k. This past Sunday, July 14th, was the big day.

It was a rare sunny and warm morning for London this year. The day turned out to be quite different from what I expected when I opened my eyes. Here are 10 lessons I learned from that day (and the period before):

1. Sometimes Good Ideas Come (Seemingly) Out of the Blue: I decided to participate in this year's London 10k run on a whim one morning. It turned out to align perfectly with my values of taking care of my body and health, being part of a community, and supporting causes that make the world better (I was fundraising for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK and Ireland ).

2. Plans Are Meant to Be Flexible: Despite my rigorous three-month training plan, I didn’t stick to it perfectly. Life is complex, and unexpected things often change our course. And that’s okay.

3. Anxiety Often Lies: As race day approached, I worried about my ability to complete the run. I had definitely not trained enough. On the morning of the run, I almost didn’t go. But I did, despite my fears, and it turned out better than I expected.

4. Humour Helps: Don’t take yourself too seriously. I observed myself before the start, feeling like a 6-year-old on the first day of school. It was funny, and this humour helped ease my anxiety.

5. Self-Compassion is Powerful: Humour also generated self-compassion, making me feel more accepted and present. I started to notice the diverse group of people around me, all preparing to run 10k across central London.

6. Your Tribe is Everywhere: Lining up with other runners, I felt part of something bigger. We didn’t know each other, but we were all connected by this shared experience.

7. The Mental Struggle is Real: After passing the halfway mark, I realised that the first 50% of achieving anything is a physical struggle, and the remaining 50% is mental. Our determination and inner strength are what make the completion of any goal possible. It's a heart and mind game.

8. Savour the Journey: Enjoy the little moments along the way. Running past London’s iconic landmarks, I savoured each place and the view I was having. I also laughed at funny spectator signs (my favourite: "Getting up early to prepare this sign was not easier"), and enjoyed the encouragement from a group of West End singers and a wonderful queer spectator who was dancing passionately at the pavement.

9. Support Matters: Having a special spectator – a friend, sister, partner, colleague – cheering you on makes the experience even better. Anticipating my partner in the crowd made my run more exciting. It was funny when he told me I was running too fast for him to capture a photo of me.

10. Celebrate Your Victories: Approaching the finish line momentarily felt surreal. Realising I had made it, I started smiling and almost laughing out loud. The moment of victory was sweet, and I experienced it with all my senses, while letting my playfulness enhance my feeling of joy. Then I learned that I had made the run in just over 1 hour - a personal best!

For me it is fascinating how much we can learn from running - learning that can be applied to so many different areas of life: work, leadership, running your own business, working with teams, personal relationships… The list is endless!

Now, I’m curious:

• Which of these points resonate with you most?
• What lessons have you learned from your own experiences?

#10lessons #London10k #Saucony10k #Leadership #LeadershipLessons #Running #Run Saucony