Incremental improvements can lead to monumental growth - Life, business... and running

Last year aged 51 I ran a self-navigation, fell marathon, 26 miles, 4000 ft of ascent, rough, technical terrain, and did the training in brutal winter conditions. Fortunately, race day was incredibly kind to us! (The universe smiles on you)

When I signed up, I did so with ONE other friend, the reason being, neither of us could pull out or the other couldn’t do it and neither of us would let the other down. (Accountability)

We did a training schedule, then my friend broke her toe and we got behind on training (Life throws stones at you when you’re up-leveling)

We’d got our mileage up to 18-20 miles and we were feeling good. Then I got ill. And stayed ill. I felt like crap a few weeks up to and including race day. (More stone-throwing)

Still, I didn’t back out, we'd joined together, we’d done the training, I’m doing this thing unless I die or my legs fall off (The power of a decision made).

Race day, even the first mile felt hard, really hard, my legs felt heavy and I had low energy, but up that 1st hill, I went. (Just start!)

“I can always run 6 miles, whatever happens, I can always run 6 miles”. (Breaking down into doable chunks)

This was my mantra, this is what I said to myself all the way round including when I went dizzy and didn’t really know where I was (thank heaven for jelly babies and water!) (Help from those around us, paid or otherwise)

So I did, I ran and staggered 6 miles, then 6 miles, 6 more miles, the final 6 miles, then… there’s only 2 left… I can easily do 2 miles.

I came in like a pantomime horse. Not quite, but not graceful either. (I’d done it)

The biggest achievement of my life to date.

But more than that.

When did it become part of my reality that the small thing I did, to enable me to do the big thing, was something I would’ve considered soooo monumental only a few years before. (It's good to look back to see how far you've come)

When I 1st started running I couldn’t run for 10 minutes. That’s no joke. When I started 0-5K (C25K), running constantly for 20 minutes, on a flat treadmill almost killed me! (slowly doesn't matter as long as you are going forward)

For anyone feeling, they’re not getting there fast enough (me too btw!) Just. Keep. Moving. Forward.

And the final bit of the tale, the following day when I was feeling so proud of my achievement. My race buddy and I took the dog in the car and went for a walk to stretch our achy legs out, to chat and laugh. Gorgeous, I felt so brilliant and just full of wonder for what I could make myself do, with a great buddy, aged 51... and ill.

On the way back home, 10 minutes from the house a car turned, sideswiped us, and totaled my car, giving us both whiplash (A bit of after-success stone-throwing)

I called my boyfriend to bring my handbag as my insurance details were in there. He took ages.

“Where have you Been??!”

“You locked me in the house and took all the keys with you, I’ve had to climb out of the living room window carrying your handbag under my arm” (Life’s funny, you may as well laugh along)