I Didn’t Run the Half Marathon—So I Ran 13.1 Miles Alone
About a year and a half ago, my brother invited me to run a half marathon with him.
I told him I would.
He trained. I didn’t.
Race month rolled around, and I could feel it.
The excuses. The guilt. The quiet backpedaling.
Eventually, I told him I wasn’t going to do it.
Didn’t even try to sugarcoat it.
The next morning, I woke up mad—at myself.
Not because I didn’t cross the finish line.
But because I didn’t even show up to the start.
And yeah, I let him down.
But worse? I let myself down.
That whole week, I beat myself up.
Then something clicked:
I can’t change yesterday.
But I can take responsibility today.
So what did I do?
That Saturday morning, I looked over at Aspyn and said:
“I’ll be back in a few hours.”
She raised an eyebrow and asked where I was going as I laced up my shoes.
“To go do the thing I said I was going to do.”
Aspyn just laughed.
She’s used to my self-imposed challenges by now—and the standard I hold myself to.
She just said, “Call me if you pass out.”
So I did the only logical thing:
I ran 13.1 miles.
No training. No race bib.
Just grit and guilt in equal measure.
Not for a medal.
For me.
Here’s what I learned:
Waiting for the “perfect time” is just procrastination in a prettier outfit.
The best time to do the thing?
Yesterday.
The second best?
Right. Now.
Sure, I could’ve mapped out a 12-week plan.
Gotten the right shoes. Built the perfect playlist.
Or—I could shut up, lace up, and go feel the pain I earned.
Because on the other side of that discomfort?
Clarity.
Pride.
Self-respect.
You don’t learn those things by reading about them.
You learn them by running straight through the regret.
Here’s what stuck with me that day:
Yeah—next time, I’ll train. 😉
But more importantly?
I want to be a man of my word.
I want to do hard things.
I don’t want to be an excuse guy.
And I definitely don’t want yes-men in my circle.
I want people who hold me to a higher standard—
even when I forget how high I set it.
Will I get it perfect from now on?
No shot.
But if I didn’t do it yesterday, you better believe—
I’m chomping at the bit to do it today.
Always in your corner,
-LM
