For the past couple of months, I’ve been diligently training for the upcoming half marathon in Indianapolis. The big race is set for November 9, 2024, and while I’ve made solid progress, I’m finding myself facing some challenges—none of them impossible, but ones that are forcing me to reconsider my approach. You know, life has a funny way of throwing curveballs just when you think you’ve got everything figured out.
The problem isn’t so much the physical toll of training for a half marathon—though don’t get me wrong, those long runs are no joke—it’s more about trying to balance that training with the rest of my life. And by “the rest of my life,” I mean my full-time job, responsibilities, and all the other things that fill up my schedule. If you’ve followed my journey or read any of my posts, you’ll know that my job doesn’t exactly offer the kind of flexibility that would make training for a half marathon a breeze.
Now, don’t get me wrong. This isn’t me saying, “Well, I’m throwing in the towel. Guess the half marathon will have to wait until next year.” No, it’s not that simple, and it’s definitely not that kind of story. What this is, is me recognizing that sometimes, the best plan isn’t always the one you initially set out with. And that’s okay. Life is full of adjustments, pivots, and recalibrations, especially when you’re striving to be the best version of yourself.
Right now, the biggest challenge is the time commitment that comes with the longer training runs. As anyone who’s trained for a half marathon—or any endurance event, for that matter—knows, it’s not just about lacing up your shoes and heading out the door. It’s about building up your endurance, slowly but surely, so that by the time race day rolls around, you’re ready to tackle those 13.1 miles with confidence. But here’s the thing: as those training runs get longer, they start eating up more and more of my time. And when you’re juggling a full-time job, that time gets harder to come by.
My current job has me on a fixed schedule with little room for flexibility. It’s demanding, and while I take pride in the work I do, it doesn’t exactly lend itself to extended training sessions during the week. And on my days off? Well, those days are precious. They’re for family, for catching up on all the things that fall through the cracks when I am at work, and yes, they are for longer runs, too. But it’s not easy to balance everything.
You might wonder, “Well, Jim, why not just push through? Why not just keep going with the half marathon training and make it work somehow?” Trust me, I’ve asked myself those same questions. But here’s the thing I’ve learned over the years—whether it’s from my battles with addiction, my work in law enforcement, or my experience in life coaching—you have to know when to push forward and when to adapt. There’s no shame in reevaluating your goals and adjusting your path. In fact, that’s where real growth happens.
So, here’s where I’m at right now: I’ve decided to shift my focus to smaller races like 5Ks and 10Ks. Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me be clear: this isn’t me giving up. Not at all. This is me adapting, plain and simple. I’m still committed to being the best version of myself. I’m still lacing up my running shoes and hitting the pavement. But instead of trying to force a half-marathon training schedule into my already packed life, I’m choosing to focus on goals that are more achievable within the time I have.
And I think that’s an important lesson, not just in running, but in life. We all set goals, right? Big, audacious goals that excite us and motivate us to be better. But sometimes, life steps in and throws a wrench into our plans. The easy thing to do in those moments is to throw your hands up and say, “Well, I guess it’s not meant to be.” But that’s not how I operate, and it’s not how I want you to operate either. Instead of giving up on the goal, I’m pivoting. I’m adjusting. I’m still moving forward, just in a different way.
The beauty of running smaller races like the 5K and 10K is that they still challenge me. They still push me to be better, faster, and stronger. But they also fit better with my current life circumstances. And who knows? Maybe in the future, my work schedule will change, or I’ll find more time to dedicate to half-marathon training. And when that happens, I’ll be ready. I’ll have the foundation built from my 5Ks and 10Ks, and I’ll be able to step into the longer distances confidently.
I think that’s one of the biggest takeaways from this experience: progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to. Sometimes, it’s slower than you’d like. Sometimes, it takes a different shape altogether. But as long as you’re moving forward, as long as you’re striving to be better today than you were yesterday, that’s what counts. It’s not about the distance you run or the races you complete; it’s about the effort you put in every day to improve yourself, no matter the circumstances.
So, for now, I’m shifting gears. I’m focusing on shorter races, keeping up with my strength training, and continuing to push myself in new ways. And who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll be back on that half marathon starting line, ready to tackle those 13.1 miles. But until then, I’m staying disciplined, staying resilient, and doing what I can with the time and resources I have.
And that’s the real message I want to share with you today: don’t be afraid to pivot. Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals when life throws you a curveball. That doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re smart enough to know when to adapt and strong enough to keep moving forward, no matter what.
Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.
Jim Lunsford
Disclaimer:
I am committed to sharing authentic and meaningful content. To enhance the clarity and effectiveness of my writing, I utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the content creation process. While AI assists in organizing and refining my ideas, every thought, insight, and story shared on this website is genuinely my own. The use of AI does not alter the authenticity of my work; rather, it helps me communicate more effectively with you, my audience. My goal remains to inspire, motivate, and connect, and AI is simply a tool that supports that mission.
