The many marathons of life

Have you ever run a marathon?

Me neither.

But I did run a half marathon, and let me tell you, it was tough. Months of training. Running in the pelting rain or freezing temperatures to get my kilometers in and build endurance. My hips and knees were never without aches.

Race Day was an unseasonably warm one for early May, and I was sweating before my starting corral was even released. I lost my running buddy, Sarah, just before the 3rd kilometer, which meant I was facing the next 18 kilometers on my own.

My lululemons weren’t cooperating and kept needing to be yanked back into place. (Upon reflection, maybe I just needed a different size.) There were moments when my bodily functions threatened to derail my pace and time – (if you know, you know) – luckily though, the urges…uh…passed.

I completed my first half-marathon with a time of 2 hours, 47 seconds. Would I have liked to come in 48 seconds sooner so I could say I ran a half in under two hours? Of course. But I was still pretty chuffed with my results.

If there’s one thing I learned from my half-marathon experience, it’s that I’ll never run another one.

I’m joking.

(Not about never running another one – that is gut-level truth.)

But it’s not the only thing I learned from my racing experience.

The biggest lessons for me were the importance of perseverance, commitment, and unwavering focus on the finish line. I also learned that celebrating all the small wins en route to the final victory sweetens a challenging journey. For example, each time I set a new personal best for speed or distance, I celebrated with cupcakes and wine a protein shake and a salad.

Recently I finished another type of marathon. Took me two years to cross the finish line, but I did it.

If you’ve been with me for awhile, you probably know what I’m referring to. If you’re new to my blog, (WELCOME! I’m so happy you’re here!) I invite you to read this post to get the backstory.

Life is full of marathons. Thankfully, not all of them involve shin splints and plantar fasciitis. I don’t think it matters what kind of big goal we’re chasing – a physical one, like completing a race, a financial one, like paying off debt or buying a home, or a personal one, like writing a book – they’re all a type of marathon. They all require perseverance and commitment and focus.

Whatever marathon you’re currently in training for, I hope you’re also remembering to celebrate the small wins along the way. (Might I suggest cupcakes and wine?)

With a hopeful heart and carefully managed expectations, I share the end result of my latest marathon with you.

That Weekend We Were Millionaires – my novel!!!!!!!! – is the story of an average family of four who win an incomprehensible amount of money in a national lottery, and the chaos that ensues once their names are leaked to the media.

If I’ve piqued your interest – and I sure hope I have – you can find my book on Amazon. And because I’m just a helpful kinda gal, I’ve included some direct links for you below.

Canadian friends, you can find my book here.

American friends, here.

And my UK friends, right here.

(If you’re in a country other than those listed above, just go to your country’s Amazon site and you’ll find my book easily. Let me know if you have trouble!)

Thanks for reading, friends.

And, incidentally, now that my book is a fait accompli, I intend to show up here a whole lot more often. See you soon.