Six weeks before the Route 66 Marathon, I was supposed to be running my goal race. Instead, I was standing on the sidelines at the Chicago Marathon mile 9 marker — I had pulled my hamstring badly enough that finishing wasn't an option. So when Route 66 rolled around, I wasn't just chasing a personal best. I was chasing redemption.

Race day was hot for late November, with 30-mile-an-hour winds that always seemed to be in my face. Around mile 20, I hit a long, steep hill. My legs were shot, my pace was slowing, and the voice in my head begged me to quit. But I kept going — not because it was easy, but because I'd learned something important: discomfort is temporary, and resilience is a choice.

LESSON 1: PACE YOURSELF FOR THE LONG GAME

In a marathon, starting too fast feels great… until it doesn't. The same happens in your career. Early in my career, I sprinted — chasing every stretch project, saying yes to everything. It wasn't until I learned to pace myself that I could enjoy the journey and reach the big goals.

LESSON 2: TRAIN FOR THE HARD MILES

No one "accidentally" runs a marathon. In work, the "training runs" are the smaller challenges — presenting to a tough audience, taking on a stretch project — that prepare you for high-stakes moments.

LESSON 3: FIND YOUR SUPPORT CREW

Work is no different from racing. Your "crowd" is your mentors, colleagues, and champions. Once I learned to lean on others, I grew faster, stronger, and happier.

LESSON 4: FUEL AND RECOVER

Marathoners know you can't skip water stops or recovery days. Sustained performance requires downtime, reflection, and self-care.

LESSON 5: GET COMFORTABLE WITH DISCOMFORT

That windy, uphill mile taught me that discomfort isn't the enemy — it's proof you're pushing toward something meaningful. In your career, those "mile 20" moments are often where the biggest growth happens.

SPOILER ALERT: On that hot, sweaty, windy Route 66 day, I took 44 minutes off my personal best.