It’s 18 years since I completed the London Marathon. I still get the feels - the pride of knowing what an achievement it is.

But it’s not easy! And there are so many parallels between marathons, freelance and self-employed life. Just like my aching legs were recovering back in 2005, I’ve been pondering on how that ‘race’ is like freelancing…

🏅 Planning. A marathon requires loads of planning and scheduling of ideas and training plans. You need to have small and large goals, and be ready to commit. There will be social sacrifices, the need to prioritise sleep and rest. There will be times you feel like the plan has gone wrong, and you need to re-plan.

🏅 There will be tough moments, you might even fall (I’ve fallen on training runs, ouch!!) and you’ll want to give up or give in a lot. I have felt like this so many times as a freelancer. You’re not alone.

🏅 Fuel - you need the right fuel to complete the course, and that includes having the right people around you. I had marathon buddies and I find cameraderie in using a co-working space, networking, virtual co-working, facebook groups and

🏅 It’s not ‘all’ about the medals but they help! Getting awards and accolades for your work is rewarding for sure.

🏅 It’s about a long-term commitment. But it’s ok if you decide it’s not for you. I’ve run other long distances for example the Great North Run, but I’d never run a marathon again!! In fact, I don’t run at all anymore.

For me, thinking about the marathon reminds me that I don’t run anymore and that I never found running easy. Well the second part is true for freelancing! Often it really is a slog, and I wonder why I even began.

Someone once said to me, when I joked about how I had a badge for my coaching accreditation, that ‘having a badge doesn’t make you a coach’. It made me think about how, for some of us, freelancing is about the badges and medals. Certainly, I love the ‘proof’ of my running exploits in medal form. And I am proud I’ve been shortlisted for awards and as a digital woman to watch by Digital Women.

If it matters to you to complete the freelance marathon and get the medal, don’t be deterred!

And if you feel you need find some clarity and direction, get in touch to chat about how coaching can help.

Jenny