The Uplifted Insider

"Everyone wants healing until medicine shows up in the form of discipline" -Hippocrates

The Challenge That Started It All

Four years ago, running a marathon wasn't really something I had on my radar. I mean it was always a bucket list item, but one that was realistically pretty far off. You know, one of those things that you tell yourself you'll do "one day." At that point, I only really ran sparingly for basic cardio to complement my lifting or to do as an outdoor activity with others. But definitely nothing serious or anything that was progressing.

But you never know which way life is going to nudge you.

In the fall of 2021, I decided to take on a 72-mile running challenge put on by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a childhood Leukemia survivor, this challenge was near and dear to my heart. The goal was simple: I had to run 72 miles over the course of October 2021, post my mileage progress each day on social media, and raise money for blood cancer research.

I completed the mileage in the 31 days and raised over $2,000 for an incredible cause. Mission accomplished! The fundraiser was over but there was something else that had happened as a result…

That challenge had awakened something in me that I didn't expect. I realized I didn't dislike running as much as I previously thought. In fact, I actually felt good doing it.

Since I enjoyed it, I thought, "What if I could improve?"

If you know anything about me, you'd know that I love a good challenge and an opportunity to improve.

After almost a decade and a half of coaching clients through THEIR weak points in order to achieve THEIR goals. It was time for me to coach MYSELF through one of MY weaknesses. You see, lifting came easy to me because I loved it so much and just wanted to learn about it all the time, however improving my long distance running was a different story. But after that challenge in 2021, a fire was lit inside of ME that motivated ME to see how much I could improve.

This past Sunday, October 19, 2025, I crossed the finish line of the Syracuse "Loop the Lake" Marathon. Now, I want to share what my four-year journey taught me about achieving a goal that once seemed impossible—and how you can apply these lessons to your own "impossible" fitness goals.

The Power of the Long Game

That October 2021 challenge gave me the idea to start running races. I had done a few before but never really trained for them. This time I started developing a plan and I decided to gradually increase the length of races that I did over time. With the far-fetched idea of a marathon being the ultimate goal. Here's what I didn't do: I didn't immediately sign up for a marathon with only a couple months to train.

Instead, I started slowly with expectations that could easily be met. My first race would be the International Food Fest 5K (3.1 miles) on April 9, 2022. Which was several months from when I came up with the plan due to the long harsh Central New York winter. Then I did about one race a month and ended that summer with my longest race, a 10K (6.2 miles). I started 2023 with another 10K and increased the mileage to a 15K (9.3 miles), a ten miler and then a half-marathon (13.1 miles) by the end of the summer. In 2024, I added in two more half marathons and another ten miler. This year, my long races before the marathon were a 30K (18.6 miles), a 25K (15.5 miles) and another half-marathon. I also sprinkled in a dozen or more other shorter races in this four year time period. All this led to my ultimate goal, the Syracuse "Loop the Lake" Marathon.

Why the long timeline? Because I understood something crucial about sustainable progress: I needed time to increase the mileage gradually and safely. I couldn't get injured. My job depends on me being physical every day. The running had to complement, not compromise, my life and my lifting routine that I'd been doing for years. Also, it's the plan I chose because it would keep me interested and committed for a long period of time. There are many different ways that I could have gotten to the end goal of running this marathon. This particular way, gamified the journey and made it fun for me.

Here's what most people get wrong about big goals: They either want them yesterday or they spend so much time thinking about the best way to achieve them that they mentally burn out and do nothing but think. Thinking is good but overthinking will paralyze you. The first group of people thinks that more intensity equals faster results and burns out usually from injury or exhaustion, while the latter group never takes action. The middle ground is what gets things done and that is patient progression. Real transformation happens when you play the long game.

Think about it: Would you rather spend a couple months trying to force a marathon and risk injury, burnout, and failure? Or would you rather spend a few years building the foundation that makes success inevitable?

The Lessons You Learn When You Challenge Yourself

Over the last four years, I've learned things about running that no book or coach could have taught me. But more importantly, I learned things about myself.

As I had with lifting years ago, I learned about consistency when motivation is nowhere to be found. There were countless days when I was exhausted from work, stressed about life, and the last thing that I wanted to do was lace up my running shoes. But if it was on my schedule, I did it anyway.

I learned about the science of fueling my body for endurance running by experience—how necessary sugars and salts are for long races and how crucial sleep and recovery are for performance. I knew these things theoretically from my training background, but experiencing them firsthand during races taught me in a way that theory cannot.

I learned about carving out extra training time even when life felt overwhelming. As most busy adults know, there is never enough time. But years of discipline and consistency has taught me that we can create time to do things that are meaningful if you have enough drive and creativity. You just might have to play a little Schedule Tetris, as I like to call it.

Most importantly, I learned that I can never stop challenging myself. It's what keeps me strong, healthy, vibrant, and resilient.

Race Day: When Preparation Met Reality

October 19, 2025. Four years of preparation culminated on this single day.

I felt calm and prepared. The conditions were perfect. I had a clear mindset: run my race at my pace.

The first couple of miles are always tough until I find my groove, but it didn't take long this time. Unexpectedly, I was captivated by the scenery. I'd never seen Onondaga Lake look so beautiful. This lake isn’t exactly known to be “scenic” but as we descended the first major hill, I watched the sunrise coming up over the water with the city of Syracuse in the background. It was stunning. I wanted to take a picture but didn't want to break my stride.

The marathon was two laps around the lake, 13.1 miles each. The first lap went smoothly. Maybe too smoothly—I pushed a bit faster than expected and completed a half marathon in just less than 2 hours and ten minutes, which is a 9:45 min/mile pace.

Entering the second lap, I realized I had to slow down or I might not make it. I maintained a good pace until about Mile 17, when I stopped for fuel and hydration given to me by my incredible support crew, Noelle and Blair.

When I started running again, I realized my legs didn't really have much "juice" anymore. Extreme fatigue had set in, and I knew then that it would be a willpower battle for the final 15K.

Adding to the mental pressure was the realization that I was approaching the furthest distance I'd ever run—18.6 miles. After that, I was entering the unknown.

The Mental Game That Got It Done

What happened next taught me an important lesson about achieving challenging goals.

My quads and hamstrings started cramping up. Blisters formed on my feet. Pain came from deep inside. I had to walk, then run, then walk some more. Every time I took a drink or had some "food", I walked—but I kept moving toward the goal.

Here's what I discovered: The difference between people who achieve their "impossible" goals and those who don't isn't physical capability. It's mental resilience.

I had tunnel vision, complete focus on finishing. The only way I wasn't going to cross that finish line was if I lost consciousness.

When I completed Mile 25, I realized that I still had a chance to finish under my original time goal of five hours. So I ran as much as I was physically able to. Unfortunately, in this mostly flat race, the end featured a semi-difficult uphill climb. Then, at the top, the wind started whipping ferociously, almost derailing my time goal.

But I kept moving forward.

When I crossed the finish line, I was done. Tank completely empty. Broken. But so incredibly happy that I had done it.

My official time: 4:58:51.

I did it. I was proud. I had seen the plan through.

What This Means for YOUR "Impossible" Goals

Here's what my marathon journey taught me about achieving goals that seem impossible:

Start with a plan, not just motivation. Motivation fades. Plans can help you endure. I mapped out four years of progression because I understood that sustainable success requires a flexible and enjoyable plan.

Consistency beats intensity. Four years of steady progress trumps a few months of extreme effort every time. Ordinary consistent actions compound into extraordinary results.

You can always fit it in to your schedule. I was busy, stressed, and juggling multiple responsibilities throughout this entire journey. But I found enough time because I made it a priority. You always have to get in what matters most. But I also was realistic with my schedule and never planned on running more than 2-3 times a week, often only scheduling just one practice run a week. It had to fit into my life. That was part of the plan. To the people who think that they are going to stick to a routine that has 4-6 runs a week in it. Good luck! That strategy works for very few people and even fewer who are beginners. It just becomes too overwhelming.

The process is more valuable than the outcome. Those four years of training and races taught me so much about myself, gradual improvement, discipline, and resilience. Crossing the finish line of the marathon was just the icing on the cake.

Your limits are self-imposed. Four years ago, I thought marathons were just for "other people." Now, I have become one of those "other people" just because I decided to start and I stuck with it.

Mental resilience is everything. Your body can endure far more than your mind thinks it can. The goal isn't to avoid discomfort—it's to keep moving forward despite it.

Over a decade ago, I learned the value of “the process” and breaking through self-imposed limits, when I became a strongman and powerlifting competitor and now, on the other end of the fitness spectrum, it’s very fulfilling and interesting to have similar experiences with endurance running.

How YOU Can Reach "Impossible" Goals

If you have a fitness goal that seems impossible right now, here's how to make it inevitable:

Define your marathon. What's the big goal that scares and excites you? Maybe it's running a 5K, deadlifting your bodyweight, or losing 50 pounds. Write it down.

Create your longterm plan. Work backward from your big goal. What smaller goals will build toward it? Map out the progression.

Start with what you can do today. I just started training for the first 5K on my list and progressed from there. You might start with a 10-minute walk. The key is starting.

Build consistency before intensity. Focus on showing up every day you need to before worrying about perfect performance.

Prepare for the mental game. There will be moments when you want to quit. Decide now that you'll keep moving forward no matter what.

Ready to Start Your Own "Impossible" Journey?

If you're ready to turn your "impossible" fitness goal into an inevitable outcome, I'd love to help you create a plan that works with your busy life.

My online coaching program is designed specifically for professionals who want to achieve big goals without sacrificing everything else that matters. We'll create a sustainable plan, build unshakeable consistency, and develop the mental resilience that turns dreams into reality.

Ready to discover what you're capable of when you play the long game?

Click here to apply for customized online personal training today!

Remember: With a plan and enough time on task, you can do anything.

The only question is: What's your marathon?