The Power of Showing Up (Even When No One’s Watching)

📌 This post is about what it really means to show up for yourself — and why doing the hard thing (especially when no one’s watching) is often the thing that changes everything.

I wasn’t always a runner.

In fact, five years ago, I’d have laughed at the idea. I only ran if something (or someone) was chasing me — and let’s be honest, they probably would’ve caught me.

But in 2023, I set a challenge: run a 10km timed race.

I trained, I showed up, and I crossed the finish line in 1 hour and 2 minutes — not bad for a guy in his 40s who wasn’t exactly the picture of fitness a few years ago.

That moment sparked something. A question: could I go further — not just physically, but mentally?

Because here’s what I’ve learned:

How you show up for one thing is how you show up for everything.

And that’s where this story begins — with a spontaneous decision on March 25, 2025, to sign up for the Blue Nose Half Marathon.

Less than 8 weeks to race day.

21.1 km.

One goal: finish in under 2.5 hours.

What followed were some of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve ever experienced — lessons that go far beyond running.

Lesson One: Discipline > Consistency

We hear it all the time: “Just be consistent.”

But what about the days you don’t feel like showing up?

When life throws a curveball?

When motivation disappears?

There were plenty of times during this training when I didn’t want to run — when I second-guessed signing up for a 21.1 km race.

(“What was I thinking?”)

That’s when I realized something big:

Consistency relies on how you feel. Discipline doesn’t.

Discipline is doing the thing because you said you would — not because it feels good in the moment.

When I didn’t want to run, I’d tell myself:

“Just get through the first kilometer.”

Then I’d aim for three. By 3.5 km? I was in it. Momentum had kicked in.

It’s the same with anything — writing, prospecting, building a business.

Start small. Build momentum. Let discipline carry you when motivation won’t.

Because here’s the truth:

Discipline creates habits.

Habits build consistency.

Consistency leads to results.

Lesson Two: You’re Capable of More Than You Think

One of the wildest things about training for this half marathon is realizing how often we underestimate ourselves.

This weekend, I ran my longest distance yet — 18 km — and my brain lit up with every fear and doubt imaginable:

What if I can’t finish? What if I collapse? Who do I think I am trying this?

So I paused, took a breath, and reframed the goal:

Just run the 18 km. Take your time. Enjoy the challenge. Don't worry about how long it's going to take.

And I did.

That run reminded me:

Most of our limits are self-imposed.

They’re stories we tell ourselves to stay safe — but they’re also the biggest things holding us back.

Your brain’s job is to protect you. But fear isn’t always fact.

And if you always listen to that inner voice, you’ll never reach your full potential.

What changed for me wasn’t just physical endurance — it was mental strength.

I stopped trying to “win” the run, and started proving to myself that I could finish it.

Because when you stretch just beyond what feels safe, you discover that the version of you on the other side isn’t a stranger.

It's the same you — just a few brave steps ahead.

Lesson Three: How You Show Up in One Area of Life Reflects Every Other Area

When I started training for this half marathon, I thought I was just committing to a fitness goal.

Turns out, I was committing to a new standard for how I show up in every area of my life.

Because every time I lace up and hit the pavement — even when I don’t feel like it — I’m practicing something deeper than running:

I’m practicing integrity.

I’m building follow-through.

I’m strengthening discipline — which creates the habits that lead to consistency.

I’m proving to myself, again and again, that I do hard things — even when they’re uncomfortable, inconvenient, or thankless.

And that mindset doesn’t stay on the trails.

It spills into business.

Into relationships.

Into the way I lead and live.

When you show up consistently, you train your brain to trust yourself — and that trust becomes the foundation for bolder action and bigger growth.

It’s like compounding interest.

Small, repeated actions — done with intention — add up to something massive over time.

Running has shown me that how I show up for this commitment reflects how I’ll show up for the next one.

And the next.

And the next.

So whatever it is for you — running, writing, creating, learning, healing — how you show up matters.

Not just for the result.

But for who you become in the process.

The Finish Line Is Just the Beginning

If this training has taught me anything, it’s this:

Showing up for yourself — especially when no one’s watching — is one of the most powerful things you can do.

It’s not about being perfect.

It’s not about hitting every milestone on the exact timeline.

It’s about choosing to move forward anyway.

Even when it’s hard.

Even when you’re tired.

Even when your brain tries to convince you it’s not worth it.

Because those small choices — to run anyway, to write anyway, to try anyway — are what build a life of meaning, purpose, and momentum.

And when race day comes (in running or in life), you’ll realize:

You’re not starting from scratch.

You’ve been preparing all along.

👟 Your Turn

What’s the “half marathon” in your life right now?

What’s the thing that feels just a little out of reach — but is calling you to step up?

Whatever it is, I hope this post is your reminder:

You’re capable.

You’re stronger than you think.

And how you show up — today, tomorrow, and the day after that — is shaping your future, one step at a time.