Here’s the thing: I am not a naturally gifted runner, and honestly, I’m very at peace with that. I run for the social aspect, the community, the vibes. A lot of my friends run or are involved in various recreational activities, and I LOVE a recreational activity.
So when a large group of people in my run club decided they wanted to do a Yinz Run Club takeover at the Columbus Marathon, I broke my previous vow to never run a marathon again. Because community > self-preservation, apparently.
The Training Plan (Or: How I Didn’t Die)
While there are dozens of ways you can train for a marathon—it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all type of deal—the most important part of your training is to stay consistent.
Every single week, I had 3-4 runs scheduled:
- 1-2 easy runs (the kind where you can still gossip with your running buddies)
- 1 speed workout (the kind where talking is absolutely not happening)
- 1 long run (gradually increasing in mileage each week)
To avoid burnout, I’d decrease my mileage once a month. Rest is productive. Recovery is training. You get the idea.
But Hannah, What Does This Have to Do with Marketing?
I’m so glad you asked.
When Maddy asked me to relate marathon training to marketing, I quickly clarified that I am much better at marketing than I am at running, so I wasn’t sure how well this would go. But here we are, and I promise there’s a point.
Here’s the thing about both marathon training and marketing: there’s so much noise.
There are “viral” businesses popping up overnight. Daily trends that supposedly change everything. Different tools promising to revolutionize your workflow. An absolute overflow of marketing information that you consume every day, somehow making you feel like you’re not doing enough.
I told Maddy my marathon was terrible and I didn’t know if I was qualified to relate the two. But here’s what I realized: I ran a marathon. Yes, there are people who train harder and are naturally better at running. Just like there are businesses using better tools or operating in demographics that naturally appeal to social media virality.
That doesn’t mean you aren’t doing enough.
Control the Controllables
Show up. Remain consistent. Listen to what your business actually needs.
Maybe your accounting business doesn’t have the bandwidth or content to be posting daily on social media. That’s okay. You’re still posting 2-3 times a week with quality content that shows your audience you’re in business and you know what you’re talking about. That counts.
Maybe Facebook has set a certain standard for social media presence, but have you ever tried to get in contact with their support team? It’s a freaking nightmare. So instead, you sit down with your team and optimize your customer service workflows. When your customers are frustrated and looking for answers, they can actually find them. That matters.
I’m not a fast runner, and I walked a decent bit of my marathon. But I’m still part of the 0.1% of the world that has run two marathons. Maybe your business Instagram only has 8 followers… you still have an Instagram. You’re showing up.
The Point (Finally)
Marketing is not a sprint. It requires time, consistency, and the patience to see results compound over weeks and months, not hours.
But here’s the other truth: marketing isn’t something you have to perfect to be doing it right.
If you are investing time and effort into your brand—whether that’s three Instagram posts a week, a monthly newsletter, or simply showing up for your customers with exceptional service—you’re a marketer. You’re in the race.
And some days you’ll feel like you’re crushing it, and some days you’ll be walking uphill wondering why you signed up for this in the first place. But you keep going. You stay consistent. You listen to what your business needs, not what the viral trend of the week is telling you to do.
Because at the end of the day, crossing the finish line—however you get there—is what counts.