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8 Lessons from a Marathon (That Have Nothing to Do With Running)

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8 Lessons from a Marathon (That Have Nothing to Do With Running)

Sahil Bloom,

5 min read
8 take-aways
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What's inside?

Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Concrete Examples
  • For Beginners
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from the plain of Marathon to the city of Athens to deliver a message announcing the defeat of an invading Persian army. Upon completing his mission, he collapsed and died. Indeed, Pheidippides’s feat offers a useful metaphor: Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Entrepreneur, writer, and fitness enthusiast Sahil Bloom examines the lessons a marathon road race — a 26-mile [42-km] test of stamina and endurance — can impart.

Summary

Your goal is not the finish line. 

When entrepreneur Sahil Bloom finished a marathon road race in a time of 2:53:38, he was initially disappointed. Although he had run four minutes faster than his previous time, he had been hoping to shave a further four minutes off his personal best. Nevertheless, he learned to appreciate the result, because he realized that his time was “just a checkpoint, not the destination.”

To succeed in life, play the long game. Achieving a goal isn’t a conclusion; the goal is merely a touchstone that lets you know how you’re performing. Often, falling short of a goal provides deeper enlightenment than surpassing a goal. 

Before starting any new project, set yourself an A, B, and C goal.

As Bloom began his race, he hoped to run a time of 2:45. Alas, he was running into a strong headwind. As the race progressed and his body grew weary, he realized his A goal was overly ambitious. Bloom shifted his mindset and focused on his B goal of 2:49. But by the 20th mile, cramp had set in. If ...

About the Author

Author and entrepreneur Sahil Bloom is the creator and writer of The Curiosity Chronicle newsletter.

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