Faster Than Everyone Who Never Started: Lessons From the Marathon of Life
Share
I’ve always believed that life is one big race — not against others, but against the version of yourself that never took action.I was in Georgia for the Running Man Festival, a three-day celebration of health, wellness, and community. But the highlight for me was the marathon. Not because of the distance or the challenge itself, but because of what it represents — both in life and in mindset.
The night before the race, I laid out my gear, including a custom shirt I had made for this marathon. It wasn’t flashy or complex — just five simple words: Faster Than Everyone Who Never Started. Those words mean everything to me, and after the amount of people who came up to me during the race to comment on it, I realized they meant something to a lot of people too.
The Real Race Isn’t About Speed — It’s About Starting
It’s easy to look at the fastest runners in a race — or the most successful people in life — and feel behind. We do it all the time. Social media magnifies it. Someone’s winning, and we assume we’re losing. But the truth is, the real victory isn’t found in the speed — it’s in the starting.
There will always be someone faster. There will always be someone who has a head start. But if you got off the couch, laced up your shoes, and started moving toward your goal, you’ve already separated yourself from 99% of the world.
I can’t even count how many times someone has told me, “I’m gonna write a book like you,” or “I’m gonna run a marathon one day,” or “I’m gonna give a TED Talk.” Years pass, and they’re still gonna do it. But they never actually start.
There’s power in being the person who takes that first step — because no matter how slow you go, you’re already moving faster than everyone who’s still talking about it.
Aid Stations and Life’s Checkpoints
One thing you quickly learn in marathons — and in life — is the importance of knowing yourself. Every mile or so in a race, you hit an aid station, a table filled with water, electrolytes, snacks, and sometimes pickle juice (which I still think tastes terrible, but works wonders for cramps).
The thing is, those aid stations are useless if you don’t know what you actually need. If you ignore your body until you’re cramping, it’s too late. If you wait until you’re lightheaded to grab electrolytes, you’ve already put yourself at risk. The same goes for life — the checkpoints are there, but they only help if you know yourself well enough to use them.
Most people live life like a car ignoring its check engine light. They keep pushing, ignoring the warning signs, until they break down completely. The successful ones? They listen to themselves. They pause when they need to. They refuel when they need to. They understand that knowing yourself is a competitive advantage.
Know What You Need Before You Need It
This concept isn’t just for endurance races — it’s for career races, relationship marathons, and every goal you’re chasing.
It always blows my mind how many people show up at networking events, trying to make connections, but when someone asks, “How can I help you?” — they have no idea. You have to know what you need before the opportunity arrives. That’s how you seize it.
What do you need to get to the next level in your career? What does your relationship actually need to grow? What kind of support do you need for your mental health? If you don’t know, you’ll never recognize the right opportunity, even if it’s standing in front of you.
Take some time today to figure out what you actually need. That way, when life presents the next “aid station” — whether it’s a new contact, a business opportunity, or a personal breakthrough — you’ll be ready.
There Is No Other Option
People often ask me what I think about during marathons. They assume there’s some magic mantra or secret playlist that gets me through. But honestly? My mindset is painfully simple:
There is no other option.
When I start a marathon — or a 50-miler, or any big goal — I’ve already decided the outcome. The finish line isn’t optional. It might be slow. It might hurt. It might require me to crawl across it. But quitting isn’t even on the table.
That mindset applies to everything in life — not just running. Whatever goal you set, adopt the mentality that there is no Plan B. No back door. No escape route. This goal — your 26.2 — is happening. Period.
When you eliminate the option to quit, your brain gets creative. You find ways to keep moving. You take breaks when you need them, you slow down if you must, but you don’t stop. That mindset turns goals from wishes into inevitabilities.
Don’t Let Circumstances Redefine Your Finish Line
The biggest threat to any goal isn’t failure — it’s compromise.
You set out to run a marathon, but at mile 18, you feel tired and decide 20 miles is good enough. You plan to build your business to seven figures, but when you hit six, you tell yourself you’re doing fine. That’s how dreams die — not in flames, but in quiet compromises.
When you start, define your finish line. Write it down. Make it clear. And then, no matter how much your circumstances change — and they will — you don’t move that line.
There’s only one option: Cross it.
Take Action Today
The marathon mindset isn’t about being the fastest. It’s about being relentless. It’s about refusing to sit on the sidelines of your own life.
So ask yourself today:
- What’s the finish line I’ve been avoiding?
- What action can I take today to start moving toward it?
- What’s one need I should anticipate so I’m ready when opportunity knocks?
The road might be long. It might be tough. But as long as you start, you’ll always be faster than everyone who never did.