26/04/2026
Something I didn’t expect when I signed up for Manchester marathon…
I ended up going into it with a different mindset.
A gentler, more appreciative mindset.
Usually, if I sign up for a race, it’s go time. I want a PB. I want to push. I want to see what I’m capable of at full speed.
But this one?
This one was about finishing — because 26.2 miles is a big deal. It might seem easy for some, but it wasn’t for for me. 11 years ago I was really unwell with chronic fatigue and I believed my running days were behind me — I never imagined I’d be back here, running a marathon.
I’d trained, yes — but not to the level needed to chase a personal best. And that played with my head more than I thought it would. Because part of me kept saying… does it even count if I’m not racing it properly?
And that’s where the real work was.
It was hard. You never quite know how your body is going to react on race day, and I felt every twinge and tweak along the way. But instead of panicking, I focused on relaxing my mind, adjusting my gait, and just keeping myself moving forward.
Letting go of the need to prove something.
Letting go of the pressure to perform.
And choosing instead to experience it.
To take it in.
To stay present.
To respect where I’m at right now.
And do you know what? It opened up something bigger.
Because when you shift your mindset from performance → completion, you actually give yourself access to more:
More consistency
More enjoyment
More longevity
More opportunities to show up, even when conditions aren’t “perfect”
Not every season is for chasing PBs.
Some seasons are about showing up anyway.
And that still counts. It always counts.
In fact… it might be the thing that keeps you in the game long enough to reach your full potential.
As I post this, it’s London
Marathon day - good luck to all the participants - enjoy it!
With love,
A happy and satisfied. Kirsty 💛
