I Ran My First Half Marathon — And It Changed Me More Than I Expected

On December 6th, 2025, I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon. Fifteen

weeks of training, early mornings, sore legs, mental battles, and small daily choices all

led up to 13.1 miles that tested me in every way — physically, emotionally, and

spiritually.

But honestly, the journey didn’t start with race day.

It started with intention.

29 Has Been My Season of Intentionality

Twenty-nine has been a different kind of year for me — a season of intentionality.

Not just wanting things.

Not just talking about them.

But planning for them.

And once you intentionally make a plan to complete something, you realize the true

work isn’t in the big vision — it’s in the daily execution.

You have to take it day by day.

Goal by goal.

Rep by rep.

Mile by mile.

Some days you feel motivated.

Other days, your body says, “Not today.”

But intentionality asks you something different:

“What did you promise yourself?”

You push through the “I don’t feel like it” because you know you’re doing it for a bigger

purpose — the future version of you who needs you to show up today.

This half marathon became the physical expression of that mindset.

Every step pulled me out of who I used to be and closer to who I’m becoming.

Training Didn’t Just Build My Body — It Built My Discipline

Fifteen weeks of training forced me to level up mentally.

Waking up at 4 AM.

Running in the cold.

Lifting on tired legs.

Choosing discipline over emotion — over and over again.

I learned that discipline isn’t loud.

It’s not hype.

It’s quiet, steady, and intentional.

It’s doing what the day requires even when your feelings don’t match your goals.

Race Day Was a Battle… But Also a Breakthrough

Race day humbled me.

Around mile 12, everything almost fell apart. My earphones went out. The music

stopped. Suddenly, it was just me, my breath, and my thoughts. That silence made the

mental battle louder.

I wanted to stop.

I wanted to walk.

And I could have. No one would’ve judged me — I had already run twelve miles.

But months ago, I made myself one promise:

I’m running the entire race.

So I locked in.

I focused my mind.

And I repeated one phrase over and over:

“Mind over matter.”

Those three words became my rhythm.

My anchor.

My fuel.

And then — when I saw the finish line — something shifted.

A surge of energy came out of nowhere.

My stride opened up.

My legs found a new gear.

My spirit took over.

I pushed through the final stretch with everything I had left.

When I crossed the finish line and took my shoes off, reality hit: blisters everywhere and

a dead toenail. My feet were beat up. My body was exhausted.

But my mind?

My mind proved something to me that day:

I don’t quit on myself. Not when it’s hard. Not when it hurts. Not when it’s

inconvenient.

The Real Win Was Who I Became Through the Process

Finishing 13.1 miles was incredible, but the transformation happened long before the

medal.

• I learned to push through discomfort instead of avoiding it.

• I learned to trust preparation more than emotion.

• I learned that my limits were mental before they were physical.

• I learned that intentionality creates momentum — and momentum creates transformation.

Running became spiritual for me.

It made me face myself.

Meet myself.

Grow past myself.

What’s Next

This race didn’t close a chapter — it opened one.

Now I’m training smarter. Lifting stronger. Running with purpose. Focusing on mobility,

longevity, and rebuilding my body the right way.

This wasn’t the finish line.

It was a doorway to a new season.

Final Reflection

I’m proud of the version of me who showed up for this.

Proud I didn’t quit.

Proud I honored the promise I made to myself months ago.

If there’s one thing this half marathon taught me, it’s this:

You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you put yourself in a position to

find out.

I’m only running from who I used to be —

toward who I’m meant to be.

How you gon’ know your limits if you never push ’em?