Goals and dreams are something that the Invest With Passion readers can really relate to and with. These are the blocks of motivation that give us drive and passion to not only stay in the fight, but to continue pushing and pushing until a win happens.
2010 Chicago Marathon Goal
At the beginning of this year, I had decided that I was going to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon and check this life goal off my list. This endeavor actually started last year when I ran and completed the Chicago Half Marathon. This was a major goal for me because the furthest I had ever run before that was 8 miles and believe me when I say it was a struggle. So to complete the 13.1 mile run in 2:25 hours/mins, it was a real accomplishment and I was very, very proud of myself in the process.
But that was just the beginning. I figured before I try and tackle the Chicago marathon, which is a 26.2 mile run, I should finish a half first. And I did, so this year, I was prepared to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon.
2010 Chicago Marathon Training
I found an 18 week training program to follow in order to prepare myself for the marathon. It was so exciting to launch down this road that I didn’t know what to do, so I ran. I ran and I ran. Week in and week out, I put up great numbers running 3 or 4 miles on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 8 miles on Wednesday, rest Friday and run 10 to 15 miles on Saturday. This was a welcomed routine and I really was getting into the rhythm of the running program.
Can’t believe that I was really getting use to running those types of distances and looking forward to the actual marathon. Although, I can’t really tell if it was excitement or did I just want to the marathon to be over with so I could check of this life goal of mine. But nevertheless, I was motivated to continue and push through it.
Week 10 Tragedy
They say every great story has to have a tragedy in it, so I guess Week 10 was the week for mine. I hurt my foot during a run of 8 miles on Wednesday, but finished. The foot was sore, yet I persevered and pushed through it. Being an ex-football player, I know that you have to be willing to play with pain if you are going to have a chance at being a success in life, so I pushed on. I figured that if my foot was truly injured that my body would let me know. Thursday came and I ran my 4 miles although it did hurt pretty bad. Then that Saturday, I had a 15 mile run. After about 8 miles into the run, my foot began hurting again, but I soldiered on. After 12 miles, the pain was too much. I had to call my wife to come and pick me up in order to make it home, 3 miles short of my run goal.
Week 11: Rest
The training week 11 took a totally different form. It took the form of rest. If I were to have any chance of running and completing the 2010 Chicago marathon, then I had to allow the foot to heal and rest. Therefore, I decided to take a week off from running, let the foot heal, and just right the stationary bike at the local Ballys I attend.
This was still quite a workout, riding the bike. I don’t think I ever realized how much of a workout bike riding could be. At the end of my hour plus long riding sessions, I would be dripping sweat like I would if I were outside running. So that was great. And in the process, I noticed that I had lost 15 pounds since starting my marathon training. That was crazy because I didn’t realize I had 15 pounds to lose, but obviously I did.
Looking good and feeling better, I entered into week 12 confident and ready to get back on the running path again.
Week 12: It ends.
After an entire week off, I get out there for my first run on Tuesday. It was four miles. The run felt good, but about 3 miles in I began to limp again cause of the pain in my foot. If I couldn’t make it through a 4 mile run, how was I going to tackle the 16 miles I was slated to run that Saturday. This could be the end.
After toughing it out and talking with my wife at home, we decided that I needed to shut it down for the year and go for the marathon goal next year after my foot has properly healed. Something isn’t write and it is not worth pushing through it just to hit the goal and not being able to walk later in my life.
I am only 34 years old, so there is plenty of time to make sure I run the Chicago marathon. As a friend told me, the marathon isn’t going anywhere and will be there next year just waiting on you to complete.
Lessons from Marathon Training for Investors and Entrepreneurs
Know when to say when, cut your losses and pull out. This is one of the toughest lessons an entrepreneur can make. Sometimes we hang on to things, products, services, businesses, even property for too long and end up suffering for it in the long run. Let’s make sure we are making objective decisions that are going to positively benefit you in the future moving forward. That is what business is all about. That is what investing with passion is all about. Making the tough choices that are best for your bright future.
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