It’s Never Too Late to Start Your Health Journey
A number of years ago, life got pretty hard. We hit some financial trouble—our first real experience of having to tighten the belt in a big way. In a bid to turn things around, I went all in, working long hours, burning the candle at both ends, trying to make something happen. It was probably more about reclaiming my pride than anything.
As a result, I let my health slip. I constantly stress ate. I didn’t exercise much. I could barely run 1km without feeling wrecked. So picture this: Some of my 'friends' describe me as short in stature. I prefer 'compact'. But you can't hide facts - I'm not just compact; I have disproportionately short limbs even for someone my height. And at 5 foot 6 (in old money), I was tipping the scales at 85kg.
And then, just when I thought I was getting back on my feet, we hit another major financial hurdle. To make things worse, I had a bike accident. At that point, I had a sobering thought:
At this rate, I’m going to be working until I’m 80!
The Challenge That Changed Everything
Recovery wasn’t quick. I’d suffered a grade 2 groin tear, and it took over a year to heal. But as I started to come right, I made a decision that would reshape my life. I set myself the challenge of running a marathon before I turned 50. (Remember—I could hardly run 1km at this point.)
I was 49. Training was brutal. But somehow, I shuffled (literally Cliff Young style) through it.
And then, the week I was meant to run the marathon, it was cancelled—thanks, COVID!
But I ran it anyway. On my own. No crowd. No cheer squad. Just me, an esky full of Gatorade, a self-charted route, the road, and almost 7 hours of plodding.
It wasn't pretty, but here’s what I learnt:
1. It’s Never Too Late to Start
As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was yesterday. The second-best time is today.”
Age, circumstance, setbacks—they don’t disqualify you from starting. You just have to begin. There is always time to change direction.
2. Accountability Helps
A few days before the marathon, I told a work colleague I was planning to run it regardless of the cancellation.
On the morning of the run, I looked out the window—hot, windy, not ideal at all. I seriously considered calling it off.
Then I saw that he’d sent an email to our entire department at work wishing me good luck. There was no backing out now.
That moment taught me: if you want to stay committed, tell someone (Not everyone. Not too soon). Accountability (even if it's unintended in this case) makes a world of difference.
3. Be the Turtle, Not the Hare
For years, I thought I just wasn’t a runner. But the truth was, my ego got in the way, and I was simply running too fast to avoid looking silly.
During my recovery, I had no choice but to jog slowly—really slowly, to the point where elderly people were passing me and wondering what I was doing. But something amazing happened: I realised I could go further than I ever had before.
Once I checked the ego at the door and stopped trying to impress, I made real progress.
Slow and steady works. Show up, go gently, keep going.
4. Keep Form and Rhythm When Things Get Tough
Running a marathon taught me more than physical endurance. It taught me about the importance of rhythm and form. It became a metaphor for life.
When you’re exhausted and everything hurts, you don’t push harder—you focus on keeping your form and rhythm.
In my everyday life, that rhythm (most days) includes exercise, meditation/praying, gratitude journalling, reading, and reaching out to someone.
It’s not glamorous. And on tough days, these are the very things you least feel like doing.
But that’s exactly why they matter.
While it's often still difficult, I'm much better at turning down the voice that says “not today” and do it anyway.
Why I’m Sharing This
Not to brag. Not to sell you a miracle story. But to say:
It’s not too late.
Not too late to start moving.
Not too late to start healing.
Not too late to look after yourself.
Whether you’re 30, 50, or 70, you’ve still got a future worth investing in. So, start now with those daily little steps. You've got this!
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Packed with certified-organic superfoods, only 0.2g of naturally occurring sugar per serve, and smooth enough to enjoy daily—it’s designed to help you stay consistent.
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