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By: Kelsey Knigin
In the summer of 2022 I set the goal of running in the Austin Half Marathon in February of 2023. The longest run I had ever completed was 5 miles in my peak high-school soccer player shape, so this half marathon was definitely a daunting challenge at first. To make sure I didn’t back out, I paid the whopping $100+ registration fee and marked February 19th, the race date, on my calendar. While running a half marathon started off as a goal on my bucket list, I gained more from the experience than I would have thought.
The half marathon gave me an exciting goal to work towards. I liked the fact that I had a new goal for my year aside from the usual school-focused goals of keeping my grades up. Additionally, the training added variety to my schedule that was exciting and fresh. I loved being able to test out and experience new Austin trails that I wouldn’t have otherwise encountered. Training for the half marathon, like any other goal set, allowed me to change up my life in a way that was fun and enjoyable.
Something else I learned while training to reach this goal is good organizational and time management skills. Training was a big part of reaching this goal and consistency was incredibly important. Many of the runs I would do to practice would be longer than my typical workout which made it important for me to plan for these longer periods of time. Additionally, I LOVE to run outside compared to treadmills, so it was important to coordinate with the weather. With this, I learned how to time block my calendar to make sure I had time to get all my runs in while also making time to do my school work and hangout with my friends. Even now that I’ve completed the half marathon, I still continue to manage my time the same way that I did during training.
One benefit I didn’t initially expect when planning to reach this goal was that the training would serve as a stress reliever. I started to love beginning each day with a run and felt tired throughout the day I didn’t get my run/workout in. More than a way of working out, running became a way to step away from the stress of school and do something to benefit myself and my well-being.
In the end, I realized that running a half marathon was more than checking off a bucket list item and helped me grow as a person. While I experienced these benefits from training for a half marathon, I think people can gain little lessons and moments of growth through any big goal that is set. Setting a new challenge in our lives helps us explore our likes and dislikes while changing our lives for the better.
About The Author:
Kelsey Knigin '25
Finance
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Fall 2023 Student
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