My youngest daughter recently asked me to run a half marathon with her. As a long time runner, I get such a thrill in sharing this activity with others, especially my children. So, to say the least, I was ecstatic when she asked me. I had to play it cool but inside I was beaming!
Then a couple days later I realized I hadn’t run this distance in over a year. Time to get to work!
So, I dug into my plan to get ready. As I started, something was different. I didn’t focus on the course, the race day logistics or my goals. Instead, I was thinking about my daughter and what could I do to help her achieve her goals.
It was one day on a run together (did I say how thrilled I was to be running with her?!?!), she asked my opinion on participating in longer races. She had good questions about rest, fuel, pace and more. At 17, she is way ahead of where I was early in my running days. I was more like Forrest Gump…”I think I’ll go for a run” and then I would just run, and every other day I would rinse and repeat.
As a father of four daughters, I have learned my lessons the hard way. In these moments as a new parent, and if I’m honest still today 😊, I would try to impress upon them my style of race, my plan, my thoughts on how they could perform, my, my, my. I have worked hard to be a more supportive father that listens, validates, and takes myself out of it. So, I listened and offered what I’ve learned, experienced and practiced. As I did, what came to mind were the countless phrases & quotes comparing life and marathons (or in this case a ½ marathon).
I’ve used these phrases multiple times in the past myself but this time it hit me a little different. Here are a few thoughts that draw correlations between life and running a marathon, and are critical to us living the life we choose:
Resilience: In both marathons and life, resilience is essential. It's the ability to bounce back from setbacks, learn from failures, and keep moving forward, even when the road ahead seems daunting or uncertain.
Pacing: Just as runners must pace themselves in a marathon to avoid burning out too soon, in life, pacing is crucial. Finding balance and knowing when to push forward and when to rest allows us to sustain our efforts and maintain momentum over the long haul.
Mindset: A positive mindset is essential for both marathons and life. Believing in oneself, staying focused on the goal, and cultivating positive self-talk in the face of adversity are key to overcoming challenges and manifesting success.
Preparation: Preparation is vital for success in both marathons and life. Just as runners train rigorously to build strength and endurance, in life, we must invest time and effort in personal growth, education, and skill development to reach our full potential.
Support: Marathon runners often rely on the support of coaches, teammates, and spectators to keep them motivated and inspired. Similarly, in life, having a supportive network of family, friends, mentors, and colleagues can provide encouragement, guidance, and strength during challenging times.
Milestones: Like mile markers in a marathon, life is punctuated by milestones - significant events or achievements that mark our progress along the journey. Celebrating these milestones, both big and small, helps us stay motivated and appreciate how far we've come.
Brian, I just came across this on Facebook and I want to subscribe. They are great stories with real analogies and important life lessons. Thank you, Pat McMahon
As another daughter of yours, I have been able to see these lessons in real life and I have learned about them through observation without even realizing it. But if you're not as fortunate as me, this article can get you closer to learning and implementing these great phrases/lessons into your life!