My First Marathon and 50K Ultra: Doing Hard Things with God and Good Friends

Last weekend, I traded country roads for rocky trails, steep climbs, creek crossings, and more than ten hours in the woods. I completed my first marathon and my first 50K ultra in the same day. The course was supposed to be about 32 miles, but by the time it was over, my watch showed closer to 34.

I ate a lot of humble pie out there.

I had never run a technical trail race. Before this, I had never gone farther than a half marathon. Suddenly I was climbing over rocks, watching every step, moving through the woods, and learning that trail miles are nothing like road miles. It was harder than I imagined, but it was also better than I could have planned.

I did not finish first. I did not finish last. I finished within the time I wanted, and I finished with friends. That mattered more than any place on a results sheet.

One of the biggest surprises was that I completed the entire race without music. I never thought I could spend that many hours moving without headphones. Instead, I listened to the sounds God made. I noticed the trees, the plants, the quiet, and the steady rhythm of one foot in front of the other. There are seasons when we need noise to keep us going, but there are also days when our souls need enough quiet to hear what has been there all along.

The trail reminded me that movement is not about proving that we are better than someone else. Every person out there had a different reason for running. Some were chasing a time. Some were seeking quiet. Some simply wanted to discover what they could do. We were all moving forward in our own way.

I also learned the practical things: good shoes matter, good socks matter, fueling matters, and encouraging people matter. Walking is not failure. Whether you move a quarter mile, one mile, 32 miles, 50 miles, or 100 miles, it is okay to walk. The goal is not to make your movement look like someone else’s. The goal is to take the next step you are able to take.

I used to weigh nearly 300 pounds. I have lost around 160 pounds and maintained that loss, but I am not sharing that because everyone needs to follow my path. I am sharing it because I want you to know that where you begin does not get to decide where you finish. I did not wake up one day able to complete an ultra. I kept making small choices to get up, move my body, and do the next hard thing.

Sometimes faith looks like a giant leap. Most of the time, it looks like another step when you are tired.

By the end, I was sore, slow, dirty, and deeply grateful. God met me in the beauty, the discomfort, the friendship, and the silence. He reminded me that strength is not always loud. Sometimes strength is simply refusing to quit.

If you see us moving a little slower today, know that we accomplished several goals out there. First marathon. First 50K. First trail distance beyond a half marathon. We did hard things together, and I am incredibly proud of us.

Whatever your next hard thing is, you do not have to do it perfectly. You just have to begin. Take the next faithful step. Walk when you need to walk. Rest when you need to rest. Surround yourself with people who remind you that you can keep going.

You can do hard things, and God can meet you in every mile.