Lessons on Marathon Preparation for Entrepreneurs

A marathon can be a grueling test in mental and physical endurance and is not one for the faint hearted. The entrepreneurship journey can be a difficult path for most. Here are tips on marathon preparation that can help on your entrepreneurship journey.

Start Small

According to rei.com, starting with a few shorter races i.e. 2km, 5km, 10km or even a half marathon is an excellent way to prepare physically and mentally for a first marathon. So it is with launching a startup. Starting small enables you to test your ideas and get a good understanding of the market.

Build your stamina

Before attempting to run in any marathon, a runner needs to have a training programme that helps to safely build the physical stamina and strength to withstand the eventual marathon feat. An entrepreneur needs to take time and effort to fully understand the market and industry he/she wants to operate in.

Get motivated

Runners join a marathon for different reasons – some for charity, to lose weight or a line item on their bucket list. These reasons usually serve as great motivation points during the run. Same with entrepreneurship which may be driven by need, passion, purpose or reward. When your business venture is not going as planned, a healthy dose of motivation always serves as a good energy and mood booster

Accept help

In a marathon, many people line the streets to cheer the runners and hand out water in between drinking stations. Increasingly, entrepreneurship is being encouraged through various individual, corporate and government efforts across the country.  While more is still being required in terms of enterprise support systems, there are so many already benefiting from these various initiatives.

Rest and recover

Another tip from rei.com to preparing for a marathon is that adequate rest all through the preparation phase helps prevent injuries and mental burnout. An entrepreneur should always take time to rest and review progress. This can be in form of time away from work, a personal retreat to a quiet location and/ or training focused on getting one away from the usual rush of activities.

By Adenike Adeyemi

* Adeyemi is Executive Director at FATE Foundation

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