Why I Ran a Marathon and What It Taught Me

Why I Decided to Run a Marathon

As I reflected on my personal and professional journey, I realized I was ready for a significant challenge—something I could give myself that didn't depend on anyone else. That's when I decided to run a marathon.

I wanted to take on a challenge that I could control entirely. Running 26.2 miles became my way of proving to myself that I could commit to something difficult, push through the hard parts, and come out stronger on the other side.

Running a marathon represented personal achievement on my own terms. I wanted something that would force me to rely on my own discipline, determination, and endurance. The marathon became a way for me to build confidence and take control of my personal growth in a tangible, measurable way.

What I Hoped to Get Out of It

Going into the marathon, I carried a quiet hope that the experience might boost my self-confidence or bring about some positive change. After grappling with frustration and self-doubt for so long, I was looking for something that could help me move forward. I wasn't expecting a dramatic transformation or sudden epiphany—just a small shift in how I viewed myself and my capabilities. In the end, that moment of clarity or confidence boost I'd been hoping for didn't materialize quite as I'd imagined.

I thought running a marathon could be the start of rebuilding my self-efficacy. If I could push through its physical and mental demands, surely it would translate into a deeper sense of confidence and control over my life. It was about resetting my outlook and proving to myself that I could finish something difficult—on my own terms.

For most first-time marathoners, just finishing is supposed to be an achievement in itself, but for me, that wasn’t enough. I had set a time that felt ambitious but possible, and it’s what kept me locked in during the race. The entire time, right up until I crossed the finish line, there was a constant sense of uncertainty—success was never guaranteed, and I didn’t know if I would actually get under 5 hours until the very end.?

What I Learned from the Marathon

Slow Down to Speed Up

When I first started training, my instinct was to push myself as hard as I could for as long as possible. I was so focused on keeping a fast pace that I burned out quickly, often feeling frustrated when I couldn’t maintain it. The harder I pushed, the less progress I seemed to make. Once I learned to embrace a slower, steadier pace, I found I could go farther and gained a sense of control over the process.

Most marathon training, as I learned, isn’t about running fast. It’s about running smart. Easy running—jogging at a pace where you can comfortably talk—is what allows you to build the endurance you need for long distances. By slowing down, I was able to run farther and faster over time. It wasn’t a new lesson—I’d been told many times that pacing is key. But feeling like I was always behind, I had a habit of pushing myself as fast and as far as I could, thinking that was the only way to catch up.

Key Takeaway: Rushing through things can make the path harder, while taking your time and focusing on what actually matters leads to real progress.

You Can Make Easy Things Hard, or Hard Things Easy

On the surface, running a marathon is simple—you just run. It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that. But as I learned during my training, even the simplest tasks can become incredibly difficult if you don’t approach them the right way. Without a plan or the right mindset, something that seems easy can quickly become overwhelming.

When I started training, I didn’t have a real structure in place. I was just trying to run as far as I could, as fast as I could. But that lack of planning made the entire process much harder than it needed to be. Once I embraced a proper training plan—one that focused on pacing, recovery, and gradual progression—running became more manageable. The “hard” thing (running 26.2 miles) suddenly became achievable.

Often, we make things harder than they need to be by trying to force our way through without a clear plan or by focusing on doing more instead of doing things smarter. Success doesn’t always come from working harder—it often comes from understanding the right way to approach a challenge. With the right preparation and mindset, even the toughest goals can feel more within reach.

What I Learned While Preparing

Consistency Is Key

One of the most valuable lessons I learned while preparing for the marathon was the importance of consistency. Not every run had to be a personal best, and there were plenty of days when I didn’t feel like going out. But the act of showing up, even when it didn’t feel significant, is what built my endurance over time. Consistency didn’t just improve my fitness—it strengthened my mindset. I realized that progress isn’t always about dramatic breakthroughs; it’s about the small, steady efforts that compound over time.

Plans Make the Impossible Possible

When I first set the goal of running a marathon, it felt like an enormous, almost impossible task. But as I followed my training plan—gradually increasing distances and pacing myself—the goal became more manageable. The key was having a structured plan that broke down the process into smaller, achievable steps.?

When you have a plan and take things one step at a time, even the most ambitious goals become possible. The plan gave me direction and made what seemed overwhelming feel achievable.

You Learn by Doing It Wrong First

In the early stages of training, I made a lot of mistakes. I pushed too hard, didn’t listen to my body, and ignored proper recovery. Those missteps taught me more than anything else. It was through doing things wrong that I learned how to do them right.?

Failure, when used as a learning tool, can be one of the best teachers. Every time I adjusted my training based on a mistake, I got better. The process wasn’t perfect, but that’s where growth happened—through trial, error, and adaptation.

Where I Am in My Journey

Crossing the finish line of my first marathon was supposed to be a defining moment. I set out to run under 5 hours, and I did. But when I hit that goal, I didn’t feel the overwhelming pride or sense of accomplishment I had hoped for. There was no emotional breakthrough, no sudden feeling of triumph. It was just… done. And that left me questioning why the win didn’t feel as impactful as I had imagined.

What I’ve come to realize is that external achievements, while important, don’t always provide the deep sense of fulfillment we hope for. The marathon wasn’t about the time I crossed the finish line or whether I hit a specific goal—it was about the journey to get there. The discipline, the preparation, the commitment to showing up when it was hard—that’s where the real value lies. It’s the process that shapes us, not just the result.

I’m still figuring things out. I’m still on the journey of personal growth and learning what it means to feel proud of myself. But running the marathon was a step forward. It taught me that personal achievements aren’t about dramatic moments of success—they’re about the resilience and patience it takes to keep moving forward, even when the emotional reward isn’t immediate. And in that way, I’m learning to value the journey itself more than the destination.