One Decision I Did Not Quit
On November 16, 2025, I joined a small global community: the 1% who have completed a marathon.
I did not fully understand how powerful that moment would feel until I crossed the finish line.
I kept going. I finished. I became a marathoner.
This was not just a test of endurance. It was a living, breathing lesson in commitment, self-trust, and follow-through. Below is how my marathon unfolded, mile by mile, and what each stretch of pavement taught me.
My Pace
- Mile 1: 13:13
- Mile 2: 13:38
- Mile 3: 13:24
- Mile 4: 13:30
- Mile 5: 13:20
- Mile 6: 13:50
- Mile 7: 16:15
- Mile 8: 13:40
- Mile 9: 14:46
- Mile 10: 16:00
- Mile 11: 15:09
- Mile 12: 15:07
- Mile 13: 15:37
- Mile 14: 17:04
- Mile 15: 21:30
- Mile 16: 16:25
- Mile 17: 18:03
- Mile 18: 19:11
- Mile 19: 18:18
- Mile 20: 17:50
- Mile 21: 17:36
- Mile 22: 17:01
- Mile 23: 17:31
- Mile 24: 15:50
- Mile 25: 16:21
- Mile 26: 14:37
What the Marathon Taught Me
- I paced the early miles with discipline, not ego.
- I met the wall and climbed over it.
- I stayed consistent when comfort disappeared.
- I finished my final full mile faster than miles 14-23.
- I completed my first marathon in 7:00:18, with an average pace of 16:03.
- I started in Wave 7 at 7:24 AM and crossed the finish line at 2:34 PM: On time and on purpose.
- Most importantly, I never quit on myself.
This was more than a race.
It was healing. It was discipline. It was my declaration that entering 50 would be intentional, grounded, and powerful.
The Moments I Didn't Expect
- I stopped 3-4 times to use the restroom and released the need to rush.
- I paused to check on other runners, offering encouragement, sharing Biofreeze, and teaching stretches.
- I experienced painful cramps between miles 15-17 and chose wisdom over force.
- I danced at Mile 20 because joy carried me when muscles could not.
- I climbed brutal hills between Miles 20-22 and did not stop. (Although I did question my decision-making skills and why I decided running a marathon was a good birthday gift idea).
- I refilled my bottles at every hydration station, and my running belt definitely mattered.
These moments slowed my pace, but they strengthened my purpose. They made my finish richer, deeper, and more aligned with who I am.
What Finishing Changed
This marathon was not about proving strength. It was about the honoring process. It was about listening to my body, trusting my preparation, and choosing perseverance again and again, long after the applause faded.
- I finished what I started.
- Not perfectly.
- Not quickly.
- But faithfully.
And here is what I know now:
- You do not have to be fast to be faithful.
- You do not have to be loud to be powerful.
- You do not have to be fearless to finish, only willing.
Whatever race you are running: physical, emotional, spiritual, or generational, commit to seeing it through. Pace yourself. Rest when needed. Ask for help. Offer help. Choose joy when the miles feel long.
And when you reach your finish line, stand firmly in this truth:
- You kept going.
- You finished.
- You honored your word to yourself.
This is The Journey of Miles, Milestones, and Memories.
And it is still unfolding.
With joy, resolve, and a finishing spirit,
Stacie J.
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