On April 23 2023, I ran the Jersey City Marathon! It was a challenging experience, but one that taught me a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. I won’t just talk about the lessons from my first marathon, but how these learnings could be applied to real life or your career!
Lessons from my Marathon
Planning and Preparation
The first lesson is about planning and preparation. Hardly anyone can just wake up one day and run a marathon without any training. I followed a 16-week training plan from a group called Runners’ High With Bala. Without their structured plan, I don’t think I could have trained effectively. Similar to the training plan, it’s equally important to plan for the race day. You need to have a plan for things like equipment, pacing, and nutrition. For example, when to have how much water, salt, and energy gels to fuel you through the race. You can see how this applies to life or career. Whether it’s a work project or an interview, having a plan, sticking to the plan, working hard and seeking help when needed is important to achieve success.
Roadblocks
The second lesson is that roadblocks and surprises are inevitable, both in running and in life. Whether it’s an injury or a sudden change in weather, it’s important to adapt and make incremental progress. It’s easy to get discouraged, but understand that it’s all part of the process. Trust the process and keep moving forward. For example, when I experienced some knee pain during my training, I had to reduce my pace and adjust my expectations for the race. This resilience, adaptability, and perseverance will help you in other areas too. You will face setbacks or challenges at some point in your career or life. It’s important to stay focused on your goals, make adjustments as needed and keep moving forward.
Power of Positivity
The third lesson is the power of positive people. During the preparation, our coaches other fellow runners were always there for support. During the race, there were many spectators standing in the rain, cheering us on, and their selfless act was a big factor in what kept me going. It’s important to be that positive influence for others as well. Your small act of kindness could be a game-changer for someone else. At work or college, being in the company of smart and positive people can help you stay motivated and inspired, and can also provide valuable feedback and guidance.
Celebrate Growth
The fourth lesson is about celebrating your own growth, even if you’re not at the top of the pack. I was probably in the bottom 20th percentile in terms of speed, but it’s not easy to run 26.2 miles, no matter how slow you run. Don’t let haters take away your accomplishments. Self-awareness and self-acceptance are very important for mental wellness. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive for constant improvement, but it’s important to focus on your own progress and achievements, rather than comparing yourself to others. You don’t have to be the fastest or the most successful. If you achieved something significant, if you are a better version of your previous self, that is something to celebrate and be proud of.
Find your “Why”, Enjoy the Process!
And finally, the fifth lesson is that if you dread the process, your overall experience will be suboptimal. It feels good to challenge yourself, but the marathon training and the race can be quite torturous. Don’t do something just because someone else is doing it. Do it if it means something to you. You need to find your “why” and enjoy the process instead of just focusing on the end result. For example, if you want to interview at FAANG just because everyone else is doing it, you might struggle. Instead of focusing on just getting an offer, if you set your “why” to solidify your concepts and to be a better communicator, then you can enjoy the preparation, and the offer would be a bonus. Even if you don’t get an offer, your knowledge gain will be significant, and it’ll come in handy for the next interview.
Summary
To sum it up, completing my first marathon taught me five valuable lessons that can be applied to life or career. The first lesson is about planning and preparation, which is important in achieving success in any endeavor. The second lesson is that roadblocks and surprises are inevitable, but resilience, adaptability, and perseverance are key to overcoming them. The third lesson is the power of positive people, which can motivate and inspire us to achieve our goals. The fourth lesson is celebrating your own growth, focusing on your own progress and achievements, and being self-aware and self-accepting. And finally, the fifth lesson is enjoying the process, finding your “why,” and doing things that truly matter to you.
I hope these lessons from my marathon inspire you to take on challenges and achieve your goals, no matter how daunting they may seem. Remember, it’s not about being the best or the fastest, but about constantly growing and improving. I’ve also made a video on this, which you can watch here!