After the Finish Line: What My First Marathon Taught Me

In 2018, I crossed the finish line of my first marathon. At the time, I thought I was writing about running 26.2 miles. Looking back, I realize I was writing about something much bigger—the process of rebuilding confidence, keeping promises to myself, and learning that small choices really do add up.

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The Mother Road Marathon 2018

The “big” day has now come and gone. Today I wake up a “marathoner”. Is it much different than any other day? Probably not, but tears are streaming down my face writing this.

I expected this reaction yesterday at the finish line. I teared up a little unexpectedly seeing two good friends there with my daughter at the finish line, but there wasn’t a big rush of emotions… that waited for this morning while I was taking in the beautiful sunrise and drinking my coffee with the solitude of my thoughts.

First there are the doubts

The thoughts were varied:

• Maybe it would have been easier if I had trained more?
• Maybe I should have pushed more and gotten a better time?
• What if I wouldn’t have pushed the first half so hard, then maybe I wouldn’t have walked so much the second half?
• Was this really worth the hours I put it to training?
• I was in a lot of pain towards the end… maybe my body is telling me something.
• I don’t have much pain today, so maybe I am OK.
• But maybe I will be in more pain tomorrow… it usually is worse 48 hours later.
• I will never do this again.
• Maybe I should do this again next year and try harder.
• No, I will never do this again!
• But Michelle has finished 9 and Nancy is striving for 26 in one year! (more on that below)

Then there was the answer

Then I picked up my phone and there was the answer. It was a simple Facebook message from a friend. All it said was “So glad you did it. Congratulations”. 

What was so significant about that? It wasn’t necessarily those particular words… it was who it came from and other words that same person has told me over the past months of this journey that resonated in my head.  Bear with me here as I explain…. 

This is a friend from my late teenage years. One of those people you friend on Facebook but never really interact with. You just see and maybe like random posts and think “glad they are doing well”.

On Feb 13th (yes, I remember the exact date), I got a random message from him “Are you on a fitness journey? Seems very awesome”. Who knew those simple words, would make me cry like a baby 7 months later.

I am on a Journey

Yes, I was on a journey but at that time it really was just a dream.

How many times had I started on different journeys (weight loss, nutrition, business or personal) and never followed thru? How many times did I make major plans, even written them down and started, just to let them fizzle away weeks (or even sometimes days) later? How many times did I let the plans of others get in the way of my dreams and desires?

His simple congratulatory text this morning reminded me of words he once told me:  If you can’t be yourself, then who are you and what are you doing with yourself?

There was the answer… I am on a journey… and it is my journey. I am being myself, achieving things I never imagined I could. Pushing myself harder, putting myself first.

I have learned a lot on this journey … a lot of it just yesterday from the people I met… 

Erasing the past

Yesterday I met a woman who had 26 negative thoughts about herself written on her arms. Every mile she was wiping off one… erasing the negativity with the accomplishment of another mile.

I didn’t see her at the finish line.  I slowed down so I believe she finished ahead of me. I didn’t even catch her name but she reminded me of one of the main benefits running has brought to my life.

Accomplishing this marathon was just a culmination of all the hard work and effort of the past 10 months. It represents so much more than 26.2 miles. It represents a new me… a motivated me.

A me who will not let others tell her what she should or shouldn’t do.

A me who will not listen when told what she can and can’t accomplish.

I have been erasing the negative thoughts of the past. I am worth it. I can do it. I deserve it!

Her Own Path

During the second half of the race, I met Nancy, a woman who taught me something I still carry with me today. She had her own plan, her own pace, and her own reasons for being out there—and she wasn’t following anyone else’s map.

She also stopped along the way for the small things that made her happy—even mid-race, even when it meant a slower finish. It reminded me that the destination isn’t the only thing that matters.

A few things from that stretch of the race have stuck with me since:

• You can create your own path.
• You can stop for joy along the way.
• Your journey doesn’t have to look like someone else’s.
• Do what makes you happy!

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Singing thru the pain

I am not sure how many people actually heard us, but I think we sung thru most of mile 26. I mean literally singing out loud. From Bon Jovi (Livin’ on a Prayer) to church songs (Awesome God) to our own version of “I’ve been working on the Railroad”

“I’ve been running Route 66, all the live long day. I’ve been running Route 66, just to pass the time away…Oh how my legs are hurting….” and I don’t remember the rest, but it was good.

Life will throw pain and suffering at us (or we will bring it on ourselves by signing up for a marathon!), but we have to remember the pain is temporary. Focus on the finish line, not the temporary discomfort of the journey. Sometimes in life we just have to sing thru the pain!   

Motivation … it is contagious.

Another thing my friend from years ago told me “You are a motivated person and I like motivated”.

Didn’t think about that much until this morning. Earlier I mentioned Michelle. I met Michelle thru a running Facebook group. She was flying in to do this marathon. I only got to meet her for a couple minutes before the start of the race but learned that this was her 9th marathon!

As I was finishing the race yesterday I was thinking, why would anyone do this again? Then I thought about Michelle. She is on her 9th. This morning I think I understand why.

Once you are motivated to do something, it grows.

I found the motivation to train for this particular marathon, but this morning I am already thinking “what’s next?”

Do I want to run another one? Maybe this one again, maybe a different one? Do I want to try a triathlon? Maybe a tough-mudder (thanks Nancy, for putting that in my head)?

The hardest part is getting started, but once you get going it is contagious… not only to yourself, motivating you to strive for more, but to others around you who are afraid to take the first step.

I worked hard for this… but I can do so much more

What will that more look like? I am not sure yet. I will be planning my next journey over the next days.

For now, I am starting my 3-week RV adventure from Missouri to the Grand Canyon! Hopefully marathon recovery will not hinder my vacation fun!

I didn’t know then what the next chapter would look like. I only knew that I had learned something important: I was capable of more than I had believed.

That lesson continues to shape the choices I make today.