Against All Odds: My Scottish Half Marathon Story

I just returned from a 10-day vacation in Scotland, a trip I had been looking forward to for months. The highlight? Running the Scottish Half Marathon on August 17. At least, that was the plan. What actually happened turned into one of my proudest (and most painful) running stories yet.

At mile 2.5, I took a hard fall. One moment I was cruising, the next I was face-first on the pavement with blood running from a cut above my eye, a deep cut and scrapes across my knee, and a throbbing thumb. The paramedics rushed over, patched me up, and strongly suggested I take care of what might be a concussion.

I had other ideas.

You see, I hadn’t come all the way to Scotland to watch the finish line from the sidelines. So after a little patch-and-go treatment, they dropped me off a half a mile ahead to catch the last runner. From there, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to quit.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t fast. In fact, it was my slowest half marathon ever. But step by step, mile by mile, I made it to the finish line. And when I crossed, I realized this medal was different from all the others hanging on my wall. This one wasn’t about speed; it was about stubborn courage.

Other runners collapsed in the heat that day. But battered and bruised, I finished well ahead of the last runner. Not bad for an “old broad” approaching her 65th birthday!

When I ran my first half marathon at 58, I thought I was simply challenging myself to do something new. I never imagined I’d complete 22 half marathons in the years since, or that one of them would involve bleeding, limping, and still crossing the line with my head held high.

The Lesson Beyond the Race

Here’s the truth: Life, business, and caregiving all throw us down sometimes—literally in my case. We trip, we get bruised, and we hear voices (even from professionals) telling us to stop. And while wisdom sometimes means taking a break, courage often means pressing on despite the obstacles.

Finishing that race reminded me of an important lesson: You don’t have to be the fastest or the flashiest. You just have to keep moving forward.

It’s the same in leadership. It’s the same in family caregiving. And it’s the same in everyday life. Progress doesn’t always look perfect. Sometimes it looks like bloodied knees and slow miles. But forward is forward. And finishing against the odds? That’s where the real pride comes in.

My Challenge to You

Maybe you’re not running a half marathon. Perhaps your “race” involves balancing business demands with family caregiving, rebuilding your confidence after a setback, or simply finding the energy to keep showing up when life gets overwhelming.

Whatever your race looks like, remember this: bruises heal, medals tarnish, but the grit you build when you refuse to quit stays with you forever.

So lace up. Take that next step. And finish your race—whatever it may be—against all odds.