More often than not, people underestimate the endurance and determination marathon walkers go through when training. They hear the word ‘walker’ and assume that anybody can achieve a half or full marathon walking and that no effort or time is spent in preparation. The truth of the matter is that whether walking or running a distance that long, you have to show grit, be resilient, have determination and persevere through to the end.
Personal Motivation:
This year, I completed my first half-marathon walking with my mum in Taupō. The reason why I did it comes from a goal I can remember for as long as possible: wanting to walk a marathon with her. As a young child, I idolised her (and still do now!) and wanted to grow up to be exactly like her, so as she had many full and half marathons to her name, I wanted to be able to do one together.
My mum had pushed me around Taupō half marathon when I was 1 year old, so while technically this was my second half marathon event, it was my first one on my own two feet. Doing Taupō 15 years later as a 16-year-old was a significant testimony to our relationship and all it had endured. That is why it had to be Taupō half marathon for my first, it could never be anywhere else.
The Taupō marathon with my mum in 2024.
Training Challenges:
Our training for the half marathon was nothing but chaotic… from awful weather (which I guess you would expect for winter) to a short stint earlier in the year at the hospital, we went through the works. Balancing her work, my school, downtime and sleep time while training for a half marathon was challenging, to say the least. The important thing was to stay mentally tough and remain calm through these moments. This preparation taught me that nothing ever goes exactly to plan, and it is an essential tool for learning to adapt to change and accept that nothing is perfect. Nevertheless, we sometimes considered giving up and postponing competing until next year. However, our passion and maybe our sheer competitiveness got the best of us, we had a goal and we weren’t going to stop till we had completed it. Each step in training wasn’t just a step closer to the finish line; it was a lesson in holding on when your body and mind felt drained.
Walking with someone pushes you on, or you push them along. Either way, it is much more fun having someone alongside you when walking a distance that could take anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours. When I walked with my mum over the countless weeks to prepare for the day, I learnt new things about her, shared things about myself, and vented and gossiped sometimes, strengthening our relationship. People have this sort of expectation thinking that just because you are a teenager or you are a parent it means you can’t get along and be best friends with each other, but it isn’t true, my mum and I are proof of that.
The Race Day Experience:
With a frosty minus-four degree beginning to the day, we made our way down to the starting line. If you could ever feel like a mouse in a field of huge dandelions, being at the Taupō half marathon starting point would feel like that. The number of people there tripled my expectations, reassuring me that, as a team, we would be able to beat at least one other competitor.
Our support crew consisted of a baby monkey teething toy (which had also come along for the journey 15 years ago) tied to my backpack and four people on the sidelines ready to cheer us on with homemade signs when we finished. Bang! The gunfire kickstarted our race into motion; people rushed down the street like water gushing out a tap. By the time we had gotten the Taupō lakeside in view, which was about 1km in, the once-one group had formed into trails of people everywhere. My mum reminded me that the key to completing this race was about being patient and resilient, not letting the speeds at which everyone else was walking get to us. As long as we focused on ourselves and kept the pace we had been training at, combined with the adrenaline of the environment, we would make the time we had aimed for.
Reflections And Lessons:
Jump to the end, 21.1km later, 18,404 steps done, approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes, one dead toenail, and nearly an entire hydration bladder pack remained. The feeling of completion and that it was over was surreal, in a way it validated that all the grit and resilience we had put in had a purpose. All those hours and weeks of work put in for this one day had been a success; we were champions. Of course, the additional silver lining of finishing was that we were in Taupō, the definition of a tourist destination, and we still had the rest of the day to have fun. Plus, we were given medals, as a reward for finishing, and if that wasn’t an incentive to continue walking, I don’t know what is.
Throughout those 3 hours and 26 minutes, we walked past and alongside people of various backgrounds, ages and interests who all had one thing in common: the drive to keep going. They all showed grit and were examples of what life at its core is about, enjoying the small moments that build up to create a wonderful story for you and your loved ones. At 16 km, we demonstrated grit when we hit the wall but turned it into a stepping stone, coming out of it stronger and more focused. A couple of energy shots also helped with that, which we nicknamed slug shots due to their horrific taste and slimy, sticky texture, too, nearly as bad as our sweat was by this point.
Crossing that finish line wasn’t just the end of a race. It was a testament to our grit over months of training and those 21.1 km. Every challenge we had overcome led us to that moment. My experience may not sound extraordinary, but it showed me that real strength comes from within, from pushing forward when quitting seems easier. If I can offer any advice, it’s this: embrace grit. Let it be the force that drives you towards your dreams, and never let go, even when the path gets tough.
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible.
