The Person You Become Along the Way

Lessons from a marathon about building a life you can't yet see.

The Messy Middle

Race day had finally arrived.

I was about to run the Las Vegas Marathon, a race unlike any other because it doesn't begin until 6 p.m.

The first few miles felt effortless.

The energy of the crowd carried me forward. The lights of the Las Vegas Strip surrounded us. Every step felt like progress, and I was convinced I was getting closer to my goal.

Then came mile eight.

The crowds disappeared.

The adrenaline wore off.

The sun had set, and despite being in the middle of the desert, it was surprisingly cold. The bright lights of the Strip were now only a glow in the distance.

All that surrounded me was darkness, silence, and my own thoughts.

This was the beginning of the messy middle, the part nobody talks about.

You don't know exactly how far you've come.

You can't see where you're going.

Your legs hurt.

Your mind starts negotiating with you.

All you can see is the next few feet in front of you.

Lately I've realized that building a new life or career feels remarkably similar.

At first, everything feels exciting. You've finally made the decision. You're focused on the outcome. Friends and family are cheering you on, and it feels like you're making progress.

Then comes the point where progress slows.

Unexpected obstacles appear.

The excitement fades.

And you begin wondering whether this was the right decision after all.

We Want to See the Finish Before We Begin

High-achieving women crave certainty.

I certainly did.

Somewhere around mile eight, I wanted reassurance that all of this effort would be worth it. But there were no guarantees. My body hurt. My mind kept offering reasons to stop.

This is too painful.

This is too cold.

You can't do this.

Starting something new often feels the same.

We want to know:

• Will this work?

• Will anyone care?

• Will it be worth it?

• How long will this take?

• What will people think?

But life doesn't hand us a map.

Just like a marathon, you rarely see the finish line until you're almost there.

The Only Job Is the Next Step

Running taught me something I'll never forget.

When you're deep in a marathon, you stop thinking about twenty-six miles.

You think about making it to the next mile marker.

The next water station.

The next turn.

That's it.

Building a business.

Changing careers.

Starting over.

It's no different.

The only step you ever have to take is the one directly in front of you.

Then, almost without realizing it, something changes.

The lights of the Las Vegas Strip begin to grow brighter.

The finish line finally comes into view.

Not because you found a shortcut.

But because you kept moving.

The Finish Line Was Never the Greatest Reward

People assume the reward is crossing the finish line.

And don't get me wrong, it feels incredible.

But that's not what stays with you.

What stays with you is who you had to become to get there.

The discipline.

The resilience.

The willingness to keep going when every part of you wanted to quit.

The confidence that comes from doing something hard.

The medal eventually ends up in a drawer.

The person you became never leaves.

The Marathon I'm Running Now

Starting my coaching business reminds me of that cold night in the desert.

I still can't see the finish line.

I don't know exactly when the next client will come.

I don't know which opportunity will change everything.

But every article...

Every conversation...

Every coaching session...

Every uncomfortable moment...

Is another step.

I'm learning to trust myself without needing proof first.

Keep Taking the Next Step

Maybe the finish line isn't there to motivate us.

Maybe it's simply there to give us direction.

The real transformation happens on the miles where nothing exciting seems to be happening.

One day you'll look back and realize you didn't just reach the finish line.

You became someone capable of reaching it.

If you're in the middle of your own marathon, whether that's a career change, starting something new, or rebuilding your confidence, keep taking the next step.

You don't have to see the finish line.

You only have to keep moving toward it.

If this resonated with you...

If you're navigating a career or life transition and learning to trust yourself before you have all the answers, you're exactly who I write for and the women I help through a coaching.

You can read more reflections like this here‍ My Blog Posts or learn more about my coaching at rachaelpachutacoaching.com.