The marathon

They say you learn the most about who you are in the truly difficult moments. These moments arrive one way or another in your life, sometimes you choose them, and sometimes you don't. In this case, I chose it.

I started facing this challenge with three and a half months of preparation, which many would call complete madness given my experience. Little by little I learned, and I came to understand that I was facing one of the best lessons I've ever had in my life. I thought the hard part was the race itself, but when on a random Sunday you have to wake up early to run 30 kilometers, that thought changes. Then you understand that all things worth doing come with sacrifices and a lot of work.

I trained between seven and nine times a week with gym and running sessions, while studying and holding a small job. My days were repetitive, but full of progress. Regardless of conditions, you have to go out whether you're tired or your head hurts, you have a goal in mind. I had mild pain in my knee, which gradually got worse. Your head starts sending you warnings, and your body signals that you should stop, that it doesn't make sense to continue. But your goal is still there.

Three and a half months passed, and the day I had trained so hard for arrived. And I discovered that this kind of race is an almost exact analogy of life. You start surrounded by people, everyone's spirits high, everything is cheerful. There are no signs of fatigue, like when you're a child.

In the middle of the race, the crowds disperse. Each person goes at their own pace, some ahead and others behind. You try not to let too many people pass you despite going objectively slower, because it stings your ego. But you know that if you run beyond your capacity, it will probably be worse. Maybe it's a good idea to go at your own pace, after all, the finish line is the same for everyone. You receive less support in this stage, it's lonely, it's not easy, but there's still a reason to keep going.

When you're approaching the finish line, after having processed all your negative thoughts for more than 20 kilometers, suddenly everyone is cheering for you again. When you cross the finish line it's a doubly positive feeling. You've run a marathon, but more importantly, you've beaten your greatest enemy: yourself. It doesn't have to be a marathon that teaches you this, but it's a lesson you don't learn by playing it safe, it comes from acts of madness like preparing a race like this in three and a half months. That day, I understood that one's limits don't come from physical or social conditions, but from mental ones. Everything that exists in your head can be achieved.