I’m training for my third marathon. It’s coming up in October so I’ve started spending a lot more time in my running shoes. I don’t really consider myself a runner even though I’ve completed two full marathons and one half marathon. That’s why it always surprises me when people tell me they could never run a marathon because they aren’t “a runner.” I’m not extremely athletic. I’ve never been able to do a pull-up. And except for that one year in eighth grade when I did more sit ups in a minute (86) than anyone else I’ve never won an award for my physical accomplishments. Just like getting out of debt, running a marathon is way more about mental focus than physical ability. Here are some reasons why getting out of debt is like training for a marathon.
It Takes a Plan
I have an 18 week training program that I’ve used for all of my marathon training. It includes three short runs and one long run a week. Each week the mileage slowly builds so that eventually I’m running 16, 18, and even 20 miles at a time. This plan is just like having a budget. By sticking to my running schedule I’ll eventually get to my goal, but without that plan I would have a tough time being successful. Without a budget and a financial plan, getting out of debt is nearly impossible.
People Will Try to Talk You Out of It
Lazy people don’t like to be reminded that they’re lazy. So when you happen to tell certain people you are training for a marathon they’ll try to make you feel like you’re crazy for wanting to accomplish such a goal. Broke people are the same way. They don’t like to be reminded that they are broke so when they hear that you are trying to get out of debt they’ll attempt to throw you off course.
Having a Support Team Helps
I trained for my first marathon by myself. I completed it in about five and a half hours. My second marathon I had a running partner and I improved my time by 30 minutes. Having a support team helps when it comes to training for a marathon and when it comes to getting out of debt. They’ll hold you accountable and make sure you’re doing what needs to be done to reach your goal.
Things Will Try to Throw You Off Course
A month before race day of my last marathon I got shin splints. It’s excruciatingly painful and feels like your bone is splitting apart. I made adjustments and switched my training to a low impact elliptical machine. This allowed me to continue getting cardio while helping my shins to heal. On race day I was fine. Similarly, when you’re trying to get out of debt, things will come along that will try to throw you off course: a broken water heater, old tires on your car, a relative’s wedding in another state. Just find ways to work around it and solve the problem so that you can still achieve your goal.
It Requires Commitment
If running a marathon were easy everyone would do it. Getting out of debt is the same. It requires commitment. You’ll have to make sacrifices to achieve your goal and it will take plenty of endurance. But the experience of crossing the finish line makes it all worth it.