7 Life Lessons I Learned from Running a Half-Marathon
By: Tracy X. Morel
Tags: Marathon, Running, Reflections, Corporate Culture, Life Lessons

Recently, I completed my first half-marathon and was able to sit down and chat with another runner about our experiences. Statistically speaking, not many people have done one, and we both admitted the fact that many people (you may be one of them) perceive the marathon to be a crazy concept — thousands of people lining up to put their bodies in a great deal of pain and suffering, and thousands more come out to cheer them on.

So why do we do it? Because running a race produces such incredible feelings that very few other activities can measure up. More importantly, running a long-distance race is more than exercise and endorphins; it really is a metaphor for life and work. Here are 7 life lessons that I learned before the starting line and all the way to the finish line.

1. Real Transformations Do Not Happen Overnight. Training for this race took me about 5 months of diligent practice day in and day out. On top of that, there was an extensive amount of planning and learning that occurred ranging from nutrition, strength building, and aerobic capacity building. Successful completion of a long-distance race just by showing up is rarely possible, it can be dangerous and in fact, people that have attempted this did not fare so well.

It turns out the human body is extremely adaptable but in order to truly transform its functional limits and go the distance, we must put in dedicated and consistent physical training as well as mental preparation. Now, contrast this steady process to the world of immediate results we live in, where things are always due yesterday, we must bear in mind that lasting and genuine changes take time. Rushing to an end result will not actually get us the result we desire.

2. You Decide On Your Own Distance. After the half, friends have asked me if I will do this race again, my answer is absolutely. But if you ask if I will go for the full marathon, the answer, for now, is no. And that is okay! We can decide how far we want to go and set our own goals. In racing, the definition of success is quite subjective and personal; it could just mean completing a race or getting a personal best, or completing it under a certain amount of time. We own the race journey and the results we want.

In the same way, we can decide how far we want to go in our career journeys. Greatness comes in the moment of clarity when we realize how far we want to go. We can decide what “success” looks like and then take actions to become our individual definitions of success by figuring out how we will get there one step at a time. If we choose to step back due to other competing priorities, that is okay too.

3. Your PB May Depend On The Organizational Culture. If there is one thing that all marathoners hate, it is the dreaded uphill. Unfortunately (and tactfully) I learned that many races finish on an uphill to ensure crowd control — just when you are the most exhausted in the entire race! Interestingly enough, the number of hills may also vary across different locations, so the route that you run will inevitably impact your final time. No two routes are exactly alike, so your PB is not solely dependent on your performance.

This is akin to the organizational cultures in which we work in. A risk-averse and resistant culture is like a steep hill on the marathon route that impedes speed, an open and flexible culture is like an easy downhill that aids speed in which we can get things done, quickly. Regardless of the route, there will be different things to learn, different “muscles” to flex, and our abilities will show up differently to meet the challenges that the culture/route may pose on us.

4. Compete Against Yourself. One of the great things about being a marathoner is that you don’t need to be born with superb physical gifts or win the genetic lottery in order to participate. Anyone of different sizes and shapes is welcomed to join in as a marathoner. Why? Because 99.9% of the runners are not competing for first place, they are competing with themselves, their own PB and/or just to finish the race.

Work is like that also, on the one hand, we can use other’s successes to inspire us, but it’s often when we focus inward and centre on doing our best instead of worrying about how others are performing that we evolve into the best version of ourselves.

5. Injuries Can Serve You Well. Due to the sheer distance, sometimes injuries are inevitable, but oftentimes it is our body’s way of telling you that our running form is not optimal or efficient. When you take 33,000 steps in a half-marathon, the steps add up and every little movement counts.

In similar ways, at work, we often receive feedback in many ways and forms; it could be from another colleague, or our leaders, or project results. Together, they provide us the opportunities to learn and improve upon our performance which will enable us to “run” better. Sometimes this feedback may result from a failed project or mistakes we make, they are also nothing but injuries that we will recover from, and opportunities to help us learn and improve.

6. Keep Your Cheer Squad Close. This being my first half-marathon, I was surprised by the sheer volume of volunteers that came out to cheer for us. They held signs (some of them very funny: “I know your legs are burning and so are my arms”, “pain is temporary and race results are public and posted forever!”), handed out energy gels and water as we ran by. When I asked someone why they would come out and cheer for a stranger, they answered they find it inspiring to see so many runners fulfilling their ambitions and running after the same goal.

In many ways, our organizations are doing the same thing, so to speak — thousands of people working together to achieve the same organizational goal. When the going gets tough, we can all be each other’s cheer squad because a little bit of encouragement can go a long way. Why not collectively tap into this shared source of energy by cheering one another onward and persevere through the challenges.

7. The Art of Disengagement. Just before the big race day, I was recommended by several seasoned runners that I should taper; I had no idea what this meant. Tapering means slowly reducing the distance and frequency in which you run in weeks leading up to the race day. This helps recovery from all the hard work done by restocking depleted glycogen supplies and repairing tissue damage. Decreased distance along with increased rest can be invigorating on race day.

When it comes to work-related productivity, it may seem counterintuitive but it is so important to take breaks and manage our energy at work, especially when we are working hard towards that big deliverable. Disengage from a task/project for a few minutes/hours then come back to it with a fresh mindset can do wonders. Many productivity experts recommend that we take scheduled breaks such as a short walk in the afternoon, have an informal chat with a colleague, etc., to disengage and recharge for optimal productivity.

All in all, I am convinced that the efforts we put in and the results we gain in one area of our lives have direct impact in other areas as well. That is, our levels of physical fitness, mental well-being, and also career successes go hand-in-hand. I hope that these lessons will encourage you to go for that first 3k run if you are not a runner. And if you are, I would love to hear your running stories. If you are not able to run or decided not to, what are other activities that you engage in to ensure your best performance in life and work?