Forward is a Pace: Life Lessons From Training + Running a Marathon
November 2025
Hello Community—Earlier this month was one of my favorite days of the year in New York City—Marathon Sunday, a day that captures the best of humanity.
Thousands of runners push their bodies and minds through 26.2 miles, and the streets are lined with strangers cheering them on with signs, cowbells, music, and pure joy. It’s a day where everyone—runners and spectators alike—seem united by one goal: get everyone to the finish line.
While I wasn’t running this year, I was cheering right after mile 22 with my run club, shouting encouragement, handing out high-fives, and feeling that electric mix of exhaustion and exhilaration in the air. Every runner who passed reminded me why I love this day so much—it’s not just about speed or finishing times. It’s about grit, heart, and the collective energy that propels people forward even when things get hard.
I often use running a marathon as a metaphor in my coaching and speaking work. Whether I’m supporting leaders navigating change, teams building resilience, or friends preparing for big life transitions, the same truth applies: forward is a pace.
Forward is a Pace:
Life Lessons From Training + Running a Marathon
With the days getting shorter, the levels of change and uncertainty we’re all experiencing, and the year coming to an end, there’s a common narrative I’m hearing from clients.
Many are feeling tired, drained, frustrated, unmotivated—and ready to give up on their goals. Others feel pulled in so many directions they’ve lost sight of what the goal even is. I hear a lot of:
“I just need to get through this project.”
“Once things calm down, I’ll focus on myself.”
“When the new year starts, I’ll have more time.”
The truth is, there’s always something—another deadline, another transition, another challenge to navigate. Waiting for the perfect moment often keeps us stuck in a holding pattern. A kind of Level 3 energy focused on coping and managing instead of creating and thriving.
It’s completely understandable—we’ve all been there. Though staying in that space too long can drain our energy and disconnect us from what really matters.
That’s where the reminder comes in: forward is a pace.
It doesn’t have to be fast. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It just has to be yours.
And part of finding your pace means getting clear on your finish line.
What are you actually working toward? What does success—personal or professional—look and feel like for you?
When we don’t know what we’re running toward, it’s easy to lose momentum. But once we define it, even the smallest steps start to matter again.
When you train for a marathon, every day has a purpose:
Easy pace runs build consistency and endurance—showing up even when it’s not glamorous.
Tempo runs teach rhythm and focus—staying in the discomfort long enough to find flow.
Speed work pushes limits—moments of challenge that strengthen resilience and confidence.
Cross-training days create balance—nurturing the whole system to prevent burnout.
Rest days allow recovery and reflection—where integration and growth actually happen.
Each one matters. Each one is progress.
We can’t sprint every day at work or in life. Our bodies are not designed to move at that pace all the time; that’s what leads to burnout.
Sustainable growth and performance means learning to listen to our energy, knowing when to push and when to pause. Fueling ourselves through rest, boundaries, nourishment, or connection is a crucial part of the process. And having community—the people cheering us on at our own mile 22—helps us keep going when things get hard and seem impossible.
In organizations, the same principle applies. Every team moves at its own rhythm. There are seasons of acceleration and innovation, and seasons that require rest, recalibration, or rebuilding trust.
When we compare our pace to others, we create unnecessary pressure and mental blocks that slow us down. Though when we honor our own season and stay aligned with the bigger vision—the collective “finish line”—we cultivate resilience, momentum, and shared success.
I invite you to take a few moments to reflect:
*Where in your life or work are you waiting for the “right time” to move forward?*What would it look like to honor your current pace instead of resisting it?
*How clear are you on what your “finish line” actually is right now?
*Who or what helps you keep moving when things feel hard or uncertain?
Remember, you don’t have to sprint to make progress. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to take the next step.
Forward is a pace, and every step counts.
P.S. If you or your team are ready to find your pace and move forward with more authenticity, resilience, and clarity—I’d love to support that growth. Through coaching, leadership development, and team facilitation, I help individuals and organizations clear what’s no longer serving them and create sustainable success rooted in awareness and trust.