What Else Can I Do?: 3 Lessons From Half-Marathon Training

Besides bringing the song from Encanto to mind, this idea of completing a challenge and then asking "What else can I do?" has recently been on my mind because of running. I'm training for a half marathon, which, to be clear, is a challenge for me. I enjoy running, but typically only run 3 to 4 miles at a time, on a good day. Signing up for a race gave me a goal and identifying a training plan to follow gave me accountability. More accurately: I set a goal and built an accountability framework to achieve it.

Two years ago I started a half marathon training plan, not having run more than six miles at a time in over a decade. I followed the weekly guidance, with my own custom spreadsheet, tallying the miles run each week. On race day, as a 40+ year old, I beat my 22-year old time for the same race. And that stuck with me.

How was I, almost 20 years older, able to run 13.1 miles faster than my younger, less achy self?

Three Key Learnings

1. Consistency over perfection

The main answer isn't thrilling, but it is powerful: consistency.

I set a goal, set a plan and system to achieve it, and then stuck to it, week after week. I did not let perfect get in the way of progress. Yes, I missed a few days due to illness or just life being busy; but missing a day didn't mean quitting. It just meant that I ran most days. And those days built up my strength, stamina, and mental fortitude.

I may not have seen large jumps in progress - meaning I did not feel faster or stronger every day. Honestly, I mostly felt sore for 14 weeks. But, my consistent training was rewarded on race day when my body was ready to take on the 13.1 challenge.

2. Systems make success sustainable

"What gets measured, gets managed," as they say. It certainly worked for me, when I stuck to it. My formula was simple, yet not easy to implement.

Goal + Plan + System + Consistency = Measurable Progress

• Setting a challenging yet attainable goal sparked everything.

• Finding a doable training plan prepared my body for the big race.

• Integrating the plan into my daily schedule made it part of my system.

• That system enabled consistency, as runs were calendared into my weeks.

I used a simple spreadsheet to measure progress and count my miles each week. I highlighted each day green after I completed the run so that I had a nice, visual cue of momentum building over time.

3. Progress expands possibility

The final learning is also a question. If I use the same formula, what else can I do?

Run a longer race? Run the same race at a faster pace?

Beyond running, what goals do I want to achieve at work? At home?

Could it truly be as simple as setting a goal, implementing a plan and system, and then being consistent? I believe it can be that simple, though certainly not easy.

What goals would you set?

What else can you do?

If you are curious about what you might be capable of, with the right plan and support, I'd love to explore it more with you. Reach out here.