It’s been about 15 years since I ran my first... and only... marathon. The memory still feels fresh. The finisher t-shirt has long been worn out and thrown away, but the feeling of that day has stayed sweet.
I remember my friend was supposed to run with me, but he came late. We started much later than everyone else, jogging past empty starting lines while the fast runners were already far ahead. By the time we reached the halfway point, the winner was already on his way back to the finish. That was humbling but also kind of funny.
One thing I realized that day... and in every jog since... is that jogging is never easy to pick up. Especially after becoming a parent, it feels like the last thing I have time or energy for. But I’ve learned something about motivation that helps me keep going.
When I used to plan a long-distance jog, part of the plan was imagining what I’d eat afterwards. I’d picture stopping at Changi Airport for A&W fried chicken, root beer, or picking up noodles and chicken wings from a local restaurant to bring home. Those little rewards felt like trophies. They turned something hard and lonely... like jogging... into something worth finishing.
That’s what having trophies does. They give your effort a shape, something to hold onto when the finish line feels far away. They remind you that your hard work ends with something good. A small trophy... even just a meal you love... can turn discipline into joy and make you more likely to show up again tomorrow.
If you’re struggling to keep moving toward a goal that feels too big or too lonely, maybe all you need is a small celebration waiting for you at the finish. What would your little trophy look like?
Next time I hope to complete another marathon, this time with my children by my side.