I haven’t always been a runner; it wasn’t until I ran my first half marathon that I really fell in love with running. Something about the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment keeps me coming back for more. Recently, I completed my seventeenth half marathon, and while I didn’t set a personal best time, I felt more successful than ever before. Why?  I am sharing this below.

Participating in a fitness event such as a marathon or half marathon can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. The sense of accomplishment that comes from setting a goal, training for it, and persevering across the finish line is invaluable and will carry over to other areas of your life, regardless of your finishing time.

my Journey- Finding balance

Prior to becoming pregnant, I fell in love with the half marathon distance. The challenge and the thrill of crossing that finish line kept me coming back for more. However, during my pregnancy, I experienced a pubic symphysis separation, you can read about my recovery here.  Since giving birth, its been an ongoing recovery to regain and maintain my fitness level.

This year, an early-season injury, along with other projects and priorities, limited my time and energy to focus on training as I would have liked. However, I was still able to balance my other priorities, such as coaching my son’s baseball team. Balancing wellness often requires compromise in terms of performance or time in one or more areas.  The benefits of doing so can lead to a greater sense of success and fulfillment in all areas of life.

Enjoy the journey

Running an endurance event isn’t just about the race day; it’s about the journey. Maintaining your fitness is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

While it’s great to strive for a personal best, it’s important to remember that success is not just measured in time. It’s measured in the effort you put in, the progress you make,  the relationships you forge, and the love you have for the sport.

I encourage you to share your own stories about finding joy in your fitness journeys in the comments below.  For those of you thinking of getting started, DO IT! It will change your life.

Together, we can build a community of individuals who prioritize their health and wellness and find joy in their fitness journeys while supporting and inspiring each other to take on new challenges with enthusiasm and determination!