You have probably heard it said that, “Life is like a marathon; you have to be in it for the long run.” Okay, that sounds good, but it really isn’t very helpful. You’re in life for as long as you’re alive, so hopefully it is a long run. What would really be useful is some advice on how to go about living life so you get something meaningful out of it.
Happily, we can apply the marathon analogy to discover what you can do to make life more meaningful, successful, and satisfying. When I was preparing to run the Boston Marathon, I did a lot of thinking about marathons and goals. Here is some of what I thought about.
There are probably about as many marathon goals as there are marathon runners. Everyone is looking to get something personal from the experience. In that regard, it IS a lot like life. Some people are out for the ultimate competition and push themselves hard the whole time. Some are interested in the personal challenge of doing their best on their own terms. Some relish the entire experience, gleaning as much from the journey as from the finish line. Some just hope to survive.
Your marathon goals aren’t necessarily always the same, just as your goals and priorities in life can change. In my younger days, I wanted to push myself to see how fast I could finish. Later, the goal was simply to qualify for Boston, not set a PR. At Boston, I just wanted to savor the experience. I still wanted to run well, but my time was secondary to participating in the spectacle.
So far, we’ve learned two things about life’s marathon. First, you’re stuck in it, so you might as well make the best of it. Second, you have to define for yourself what you want to get out of the experience. With those lessons covered, we come to the tricky part of how to go about attaining your goals. Again, we’ll let the marathon show us the way. Here are four P’s that I’ve come up with for a completing a successful marathon that can also apply to life.
- Planning. Before you can get much of anywhere in anything, you have to know what it is you’re trying to accomplish. A good place to start is with understanding the nature of the challenge at hand. What are your goals? What are the characteristics and requirements of the race? What are the rules and conditions under which you’ll be competing? What are your milestones and measures for success? Once you know what you’re facing, you can begin to lay out the steps for building to your goals. This takes research, organization, and thoughtful consideration. The idea is to have a clear vision and plan for what you’re trying to do.
- Preparation. Having a plan does not make you prepared, it just makes you organized. Your map will guide you, but there is real work to be done before the race begins. You can’t succeed in a marathon without putting in your training miles. And it’s not just about the mileage, you also have to test nutritional plans, recovery schedules, and dozens of other components. The idea is to try a variety of things and practice the key elements of your plan to find what works best. Preparation develops your capabilities and enables you to refine your approach and skills.
- Patience. In the final analysis, running a marathon isn’t as much about speed or pace as it is about patience. Everyone is excited at the beginning. Everyone feels good and ready to burst from the line. But wise runners know to be patient. Going out too fast or forgetting your race plan are sure harbingers of doom. You need to have the discipline to ease your way through the exciting early miles so you have the strength to keep pushing when the going gets tough. And it will get tough.
- Perseverance. When the going gets tough… persevere. Every marathoner hits a “wall” at some point. Your energy stores are depleted and your muscles are so sore that continuing on is a struggle requiring immense mental will. Difficulty and challenge are part of the game. Overcoming them is what separates the finishers from the wanabees. Perseverance calls for persistent effort with a healthy dose of flexibility. Rather than panicking or quitting when obstacles appear, seek workable solutions that mitigate the problem and keep you moving toward your ultimate success.
So yes, life is like a marathon. And if you go about it wisely, you can accomplish all of your goals and even enjoy the journey.