While I was walking with my friend today, I was discussing my long run. I told him that 2 months ago, when I hadn’t started my marathon training block, I was questioning my decision of going for runs, waking up early, and still maintaining my routine. Over the past 2-3 months, there were other things I could have focused on, but I stuck with my schedule, trusting it would be worth it.

Two and a half months ago, I was almost getting a burnout from running. I wanted to spend my mornings in bed, spending more time with the people I cared, spending more time with them over the weekends, going for late nights, and just not care about waking up early and going for a run.

However, when I finished my recent long run, I was shocked. It all came together. I could feel how differently my body responded after the run. Last year when I ran the same distance, it felt much harder.

I thought to myself, this is the compound effect in action! The principle that small, consistent actions, when repeated over time, lead to significant results. It’s not about making one giant leap but rather taking small, consistent steps in the right direction.

The Power of Small Wins #

Looking back, I realized that those early mornings and consistent training sessions weren’t just about logging miles. Each run was a small deposit in the bank of my physical and mental endurance. After all the compound effect works the same way in fitness, finance, relationships, and personal growth.

Beyond Running #

What fascinates me most is how this principle applies to every aspect of life. That extra 30 minutes of reading before bed? It adds up to over 180 hours of reading in a year. The daily practice of gratitude? It gradually rewires your brain to focus on the positive. The consistent effort you put into relationships? It builds trust and connection that can’t be rushed.

The Challenge of Consistency #

The tricky part is that the compound effect works both ways. Just as positive habits compound to create remarkable results, so do negative ones. That’s why discipline is so crucial. I mentioned this cost of discipline in my previous post.

Now, whenever I feel like skipping a workout or putting off an important task, I remind myself of why I started, and why I’m doing this. I remember how those small, seemingly insignificant choices to show up every day led to the results I could feel in my body. Consistency and discipline are key.

I hope this post inspires you to keep going, even when things get tough. Keep showing up, keep pushing yourself, and keep believing in yourself. We continue rising 👊🏻