Why the Paris Marathon Broke Me

Hi,

I just completed the Paris Marathon just a couple of hours ago.

42.195 kilometers.
26.2 miles.
Over 55,000 runners.

But the real battle? It wasn’t on the streets of Paris. It was in my head.

At mile 16, I hit the wall. My legs were screaming. My body wanted out. People were passing me left and right.

And that’s when it clicked, this is exactly how life feels when it gets hard.

You start with energy. With vision. With fire.
But somewhere along the road, when it gets messy, when progress slows, when no one’s cheering anymore you’re left with a choice:

Do I stop? Or do I keep moving?

Here’s what running that marathon reminded me about life:

1. Momentum beats motivation

I didn’t feel like running the last 10 miles.
But I kept going. Step after step. One foot, then the other.
You don’t have to be on fire every day. You just have to keep moving forward.

2. Comparison will steal your pace

There were runners faster than me. Smoother than me.
But if I tried to match them, I would’ve burned out early.
Same in life, don’t let someone else’s chapter distract you from writing your own.

3. Break it down, build it up

Thinking about all 26.2 miles at once? Overwhelming.
Focusing on just the next mile? Doable.
Big life goals work the same way, win the small battles to conquer the big war.

4. Silence creates clarity

No music. No distractions. Just me, the road, and my thoughts.
And in that silence, I remembered why I started.
If life feels loud, it’s time to unplug. You can’t hear your own voice over constant noise.

5. Pain is the path to pride

Crossing that finish line hurt. But it felt earned.
Easy doesn’t build legacy.
The moments that stretch you, test you, and nearly break you those are the ones that shape you.

So if you’re in a season where life feels heavy, where you're doubting the next step, or questioning the journey remember:

You don’t need to sprint.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to keep going.

Because on the other side of discomfort?
That’s where the breakthroughs live.

Non-Negotiable Action for the Week

Identify one area of your life where you’ve been stuck or slow, and commit to just one small step. No excuses. No perfection. Just movement.

Quote of the Week

"You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." – James Clear

Stay bold. Stay relentless.

David

P.S. Want to know the moment I almost quit the race? Hit reply and I’ll tell you the truth behind it.