The Marathon that brought me to tears

After finishing the TMM 2024, I was joyous having completed my first marathon relatively comfortably at a good pace, but after finishing the TMM 2025, I was in tears.  I think it was due to the mix of emotions—a sense of achievement from pushing through one of the most challenging six hours of my life and the physical strain it had put on my body.

Injury or other challenges are always possible when running for 4-6 hours. The time spent training before race day often determines how manageable or difficult the run will be. Still, no amount of preparation can eliminate the mental challenges of running a marathon. At some point, it becomes tough for everyone. Most participants have personal goals: for some, it’s finishing their first marathon; for others, it’s achieving a specific time. Everyone is striving to meet a target and improve on their past performance.

That’s the unique aspect of a marathon. While it’s a group event, it’s also an individual journey. Each runner is battling their mental barriers and aiming to grow. At the same time, it’s a shared experience where participants understand and empathise with each other’s struggles. This creates a supportive and inspiring atmosphere—people cheering one another on while managing their own challenges.

This year, several things didn’t go as planned. I wanted to run barefoot or in barefoot-style footwear, but underestimated the difficulty of running 42 kilometres with limited training in that style. My barefoot shoes failed during the race, and I ended up walking much of the marathon in socks. By halfway, my legs and mind had given up, but my heart wasn't ready to quit. 

That made this marathon an emotional battle in the second half. A battle where I could feel every muscle and bone in my body hurting with every step I took. But I just couldn’t quit, my heart was negotiating with my body on every step not to quit, for some part because my wife and my family were waiting for me and cheering for me at the finish line. And I just couldn’t imagine a scenario where I don’t reach the finish line to see them, high-five and hug them. That was also one of the reasons I was teary-eyed many times during the run and eventually after finishing the marathon. 

The lowest of times teaches us the most valuable lessons, and this day was certainly one of them - learning about my capabilities.