1When I signed up for the marathon, I could barely run five kilometres.
2Everyone told me I was crazy, but I wanted to prove something to myself.
3I found a sixteen-week training plan online and followed it faithfully almost every day.
4On weekdays I ran short distances before work, whatever the weather was like.
5Sundays were reserved for the long, slow runs that gradually grew harder.
6I quickly learned that rest days matter just as much as running days.
7My diet changed too, because my body needed more fuel and better recovery.
8There were mornings when my legs felt heavy and my motivation disappeared.
9On those days, I reminded myself why I had started in the first place.
10The longest training run took me thirty-two kilometres along the quiet river.
11Finishing that run gave me the confidence that race day was possible.
12Training taught me that patience and consistency can completely transform the body.