What I Learned From Running My First Marathon

I did it!

I crossed the two lines and finished my first marathon.

In five months of training I ran 275 miles; burned in excess of 47,000 calories;  experienced joy and pain; and, on several occasions, questioned why I was putting my body through this.

On Saturday, May 19th,  as I crossed the finish line, I understood why. The feeling one gets after running 26.2 miles is indescribable. It’s exhilarating and a feeling I will never forget.

Here’s what I learned from this experience:

1. It’s easier to quit than it is to finish: When I reached mile marker 16, I was in pain and I wondered if it was worth it.  The thought of quitting entered my ming and for several minutes, I had convinced myself that it was the right thing to do. Except it wasn’t.

Whatever the endeavor, there will always be hurdles, setbacks, miscalculations and pain to deal with. In the darkest hour there is always the promise of light. I could have quit the race, but I didn’t. When I crossed the finish line, I knew why.  The pain is gone but the fact that I crossed that second line will always be there.

2. Alone, Together: I ran the race with two-thousand other people.  At the starting line and at the finish line, we were together; we reveled in the excitement of the moment. Those two moments of community were separated by 26 miles being alone.  Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of people cheering, but my relationship was really with the pavement – one foot in front of the other.

In life and in business, there will be moments when we feel “alone, together”.  We’ll always have people supporting us, but there comes a time when only we can summon the courage, and the energy to keep going. Together, then alone and then together again.

3. Be Bold: Two years ago, the thought of running a marathon had not entered my mind.  When I registered for the event back in January, I needed to be bold.  I wasn’t ready and was clueless as to the amount of training I would need to complete this race. I did not hesitate and neither should you.

The distance between where you are and where you want to be is doable.  All that is required today is one BOLD first step!

I’ve been asked several times if I’ll do another marathon and I honestly don’t know.  What I can say is this – there is nothing like the feeling of crossing that second line! So stay tuned, I know there’s more to come …

Be well and make it a great day!

Marc Vaillancourt
Host of The Conversation Hub podcast
@bassclefmusic