How Training for a Marathon is Like Planting a Tree
When you decide you want to train for a marathon, you begin a journey of growth that’s similar to that of a tree’s. When a tree starts out as a seed—an acorn, pinecone, samara, or any other—it’s fragile. The elements take the seed wherever they want, and until they find fertile ground any number of things can crush the seed before it begins. But once it’s finally taken root, it can grow and persevere.
As time passes and the tree grows, it gets stronger. Able to stand up taller, it stretches its roots further—further than it ever could before. More branches show off more leaves, trunk stretching upwards as hardening bark protects and defines it. The progress didn’t come without challenges, though. There were times when growth was hard. Trying to spread through rocky soil or survive without water can disrupt or delay the goals of the tree. But trees will often treat growth as an inevitability, so, despite these challenges, it pushes through and discovers what it needs to keep that growth going.
By the time a tree passes through its final crucible, it’s a far cry from what it started out as. With time turned into improvement, it stands taller than almost everything around it. Its roots stretch farther than one could guess, and it can stand strong against all but the mightiest of nature’s wrath. The tree’s strength inspires others that see it, and better still, it can now support the growth of others. It will still keep growing, spreading, striving for more.
When you decide you want to train for a marathon, your growth will be very similar. No matter where you are in your running journey, you can probably relate to the trials and tribulations of growth. You may be the fragile seed that, despite past delays or failed attempts, is finally here to take root. You may be a young sapling, feeling the warmth of the sun and wanting to get closer to it. As you grow, you’ll run farther, feel better, and work harder. There will be hurdles in your way, like full schedules, injury, cost, or any other chaotic part of life. But those will be temporary, and if you can overcome and outlast those hurdles you’ll continue to thrive.
When the day of the marathon comes, all the training and growth you’ve done will be put to use. You’ll pass that bar set long ago and feel as tall as a full-grown tree, sturdy enough that nobody could knock you over. And to the people that know you, you may serve as that inspiration to start their own running journeys, all the while you’re reaching for the next step, setting your next goal, and continuing your running journey wherever it may go.
Written by Lucas Collins
Edited by Pavlína Marek