I’ve committed to running my first Half-Marathon in 2025. How fast will I be? How exactly will I train? How hard will it be? Honestly, I have no idea. Sometimes, that’s the best way to start: feel the inspiration, take the leap, hold yourself accountable, and figure it out as you go.
I’ve Wanted to Run a Race for 10+ Years
Bern, the city I grew up in, hosts an incredibly beautiful 16km (10-mile) race yearly. For over a decade, I promised myself I’d run it… next year. But life always got in the way—a chess tournament, a friend’s birthday, a planned holiday.
Ten years later, I’d moved away from Bern and still hadn’t run that race. When my good friend Dror (check out his amazing blog or sign up for his newsletter) shared his marathon and half-marathon experiences, I felt inspired again but didn’t act. Then, on a walk last month, he invited me to join him for the Zurich Half-Marathon.
My gut reaction was a yes…but what if:
- I want to take a holiday then?
- Don’t feel like spending so much time on training?
- My dad would like to have a big birthday party on that day?
So until yesterday, it was just an idea, buried under a pile of “what-ifs.”
Overthinking Holds Us Back
Then I thought of my chess students and how they often overthink every detail. Instead of starting with a simple plan and adjusting as needed, they want every step mapped out perfectly. I realized I’d been doing the same thing for years. So I took quick action: I asked Alessia if we had any plans in April (none yet), texted my dad to see if he’d mind (his response: “Sport is always great”), and then told Dror I was in. We both signed up. In less than 24 hours, 10 years of indecision vanished with 3 simple actions.
Preparing for Something New
Now it’s time to train for something I’ve never done, and that’s exciting! Here’s my plan:
- Find an Expert: Dror has experience with half-marathon training, and he suggested a simple three-month plan he got from a book. This plan includes specific training for a specific time goal. Before that, I’ll start with weekly runs to build up my basics.
- Start Small and Adjust: I’m a fan of starting small in chess training, but like many of my students, I tend to go too big early on. Dror advised increasing my training by 10% weekly until we start our 3-month plan—simple and sustainable.
- Set a Goal to Stay Motivated: Once I’ve made a few runs and understand where I am, I’ll set a time goal. This goal will be a source of motivation, not a rigid target.
- Stay Consistent: The real challenge will be sticking to the plan, especially on a cold day in February, three months into training and two months before race day. I’m counting on my goal, Dror as a running partner, and the accountability I’ve set up to push through on days when I won’t feel like it.
Takeaways for Your Chess
I’ll update you on my running journey. For now, here are five takeaways for your chess:
- Take Action Now That Holds You Accountable: Book your first over-the-board tournament, join a community, or get a coach. Don’t let the idea sit there for years.
- Embrace Uncertainty: If your goal is worth achieving, it’s normal not to know all the steps yet. Need help with the “how” and “what”? My Next Level Training course provides step-by-step guidance for effective training.
- Start Small: Too many people start with unrealistic goals and then quit. Begin with a manageable amount of training time and build from there.
- Do Something Hard: Facing challenges helps build resilience, consistency, and self-confidence, benefiting every area of life.
- Follow One Expert: If I started Googling half-marathon plans now, the conflicting advice would only confuse me. When you find a coach or course you trust, stick to it. In fact, I only accept students who commit fully to my methods—mixing approaches often leads to confusion. For those aiming for the top 1% or 0.1% in any field, only then do you need the most sophisticated methods.
What have you been thinking about for years but haven’t actually done? Maybe it’s time to take the leap, mark it on your calendar, hold yourself accountable, and figure out the details as you go. If you’re ready to stop waiting and need guidance on what and how to train, my Next Level Training course has all you need to start moving forward. No more excuses 🙂.
Keep improving,
Noël
PS: This article was initially sent out to my Newsletter list. If you want to get chess improvement advice for free in your inbox, join 17,000+ chess improvers by signing up for Friday Grandmaster Insights here.
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