Marathon Training Parallels Life
With marathon season upon us, Dr. Elyse Harrop PT,DPT,OCS take on the blog to share her personal journey with marathon training.
As the date gets closer and closer to my next marathon, I’ve been doing some thinking. This will be my 8th marathon, and you can say I’ve gotten really good at embracing the suck. When you commit to running a marathon, you’re signing up for more than just 26.2 miles on race day. The real work happens in the weeks and months of training leading up to it. As a physical therapist and an endurance athlete, I often see the parallels between marathon training and *life* - both are long journeys that require patience, adaptability, and perspective.
Progress Isn’t Linear
In training, some weeks feel effortless. You hit your mileage goals, recover well, and feel stronger than ever. Other weeks, you may be tired, sore, or battling setbacks like aches or illness. It’s easy to feel discouraged when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Physiologically, this ebb and flow is normal. Your body adapts to stress in cycles: you push, recover, and rebuild. Without the hard days, there’s no stimulus for growth. And isn’t it funny, life also works in the same way. Progress often comes in waves, and setbacks can be the very thing that helps you grow stronger long term.
Resilience Comes From Repetition
Every long run isn’t just about building endurance in your muscles and cardiovascular system (but wouldn’t it be nice): it’s also training your mind to tolerate discomfort and stay steady when things get tough. I’ve found training has massively altered my worldview and how I live my life. As I choose discomfort and hard work in my runs, the challenges of life get more manageable. The ability to face challenges head-on, adjust when necessary, and keep moving forward is a skill, and it takes PRACTICE!
The Value of Small Wins
Marathoners sometimes get so focused on the finish line that they forget to appreciate the smaller milestones: running their Longest Run Ever (so far), finishing a tough workout, or noticing their recovery improving. These are signs that training is working.
Similarly, in life, we tend to measure success by big achievements: graduations, promotions, personal milestones. But if we only focus on the destination, we miss the meaningful progress we make along the way. Recognizing and celebrating small wins builds confidence and motivation.
Why Enjoying the Process Matters
Training for a marathon is demanding. If the only source of satisfaction comes from race day, you’re spending months grinding for a single fleeting moment. The real reward is found in the habits you build, the strength you gain, and the mindset you develop throughout the process.
Life is no different. While goals give us direction, fulfillment comes from how we live day to day. Learning to enjoy the ride doesn’t just make the journey more meaningful, it also makes the destination that much sweeter.
