The Unexpected Secret to Finishing Strong (Hint: It’s Not Willpower)
You might think the secret to finishing strong is willpower. White-knuckling. Pushing through. Hustling harder.
But plot twist — it’s not.
The real secret?
Excitement. Anticipation. Something to freaking look forward to.
Let me take you back to the day I ran a half marathon and went on a first date with the man who would become my husband (yes, all in the same day — chaos, I know). That day, I didn’t rely on grit. I was fueled by something way more powerful.
If you’ve ever hit mile 10 in your life or business and felt like melting into a puddle… this one’s for you.
🏃♀️ The Day I Ran a Half Marathon—and Fell in Love
Flashback time— 12 years ago… May 18, 2013.
That morning, I ran a half marathon.
That night, I went on my very first date with the man who is now my husband.
It wasn’t just any day.
It was a milestone. A core memory.
And it’s burned into my memory not because I’m some kind of sentimental anniversary keeper (I forget them constantly, to be honest).
But because the whole day—the run, the anticipation, the drive, the date—it was all charged with a kind of energy I’ll never forget.
Here’s what led up to it:
At the time, my now-husband and I had never even met in person. We had known each other through mutual friends and had been talking for a couple months, texting and calling. And somehow… we just knew. You know?
Like the kind of “I know” that doesn’t come from logic or timelines—it comes from your gut. Your soul.
He was it. I was it for him.
We just hadn’t met yet…. so I needed to make sure he was tall enough. ;)
He was a college baseball coach, deep in the chaos of his season, and I was living six hours away in the Twin Cities.
The only thing standing between us and that first date?
Time. Distance. And, in my case… a race.
I had signed up to run a half marathon in Fargo that very morning. It wasn’t some spontaneous 5K. It was a race I’d trained for. One I had planned with friends. A promise I made to myself.
So what did I do?
I ran the race anyway.
I woke up, laced my shoes, pinned my bib, and ran 13.1 sweaty, gritty, joy-filled miles through the streets of Fargo. Then, without missing a beat, I hopped in the car, drove three and a half hours back home, and got ready for our first date.
Yes. I was tired. Yes. I was sore.
But more than anything?
I was electric.
I could barely feel my legs, but I felt so alive.
Because my whole body, my whole being, was buzzing with excitement about what was coming next.
🌪 Mile 10—and the Power of Anticipation
Now here’s the part that surprised me.
In every other half marathon I had run before, mile 10 was my personal hell.
I called it "the breakdown mile"—where your legs turn to jello, your brain goes into panic mode, and you seriously consider just laying down on the side of the road.
My inner critic would get loud around mile 10:
“You can’t do this.”
“Who are you to run 13 miles?”
“You’re not even a real runner.”
I had cried. I had crumbled. I had barely made it across the finish line.
But on May 18th, something changed.
That dreaded mile 10 came and went… and I didn’t even flinch.
No spiral. No panic. No tears.
I flew through it.
Not because I had trained harder.
Not because I magically got faster.
But because I had something—someone—to look forward to.
My heart was so full, so expectant, so aligned with what was waiting for me… that my body rose to match it.
And that’s when it hit me:
I wasn’t running from fear.
I was running toward joy.
✨ You Don’t Need More Discipline—You Need Desire
This is why I’m telling you:
Your inconsistency isn’t the issue.
Your excitement is.
When you don’t feel connected to your goals—when they don’t feel like you—of course you’re not showing up.
Of course you’re dragging. Avoiding. Struggling to follow through.
You’re not a “flaky person.”
You’re not “bad at habits.”
You’re just not excited.
When your goals light you up?
You don’t need to force discipline.
You become consistent—because your heart is in it.
So I want you to ask yourself:
What am I truly looking forward to right now?
Is this dream I’m chasing actually mine?
Am I trying to force myself into someone else’s version of success?
Because when you choose your vision—your own spark—you show up for it differently.
You become the version of yourself who finishes races strong.
You surprise yourself with your own power.
Let this be the reminder:
Your power doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from aligning with what genuinely excites you.
So give yourself something to look forward to.
Make space for that dream that’s actually yours.
And then?
Watch yourself soar through mile 10—tears-free, panic-free, fully alive.
Ready to stop struggling and start finishing strong? Take the first step by discovering your Inner Icon — grab my free quiz now and light that fire inside! Let’s see what you’re truly capable of when you have something to look forward to.
XOXO,
Kelly
✨ Loved this? Tune into my podcast episode 76. What You Need, Instead of Willpower, To Finish Strong on the “What If” Podcast where I go even deeper behind-the-scenes, the heart stuff, and the mindset shifts that keep you moving (especially when mile 10 hits).
