Transferring Athletic Discipline into Entrepreneurship

I feel as though there’s a specific rhythm to running that has always been mirrored in the way I work. The discipline, the rituals, the preparation… none of it is confined to the track. The lessons I learned chasing splits and finish lines now carry me through deadlines, client calls, and creative projects.

As a copywriting professional, photographer, and marketing strategist, I find it hard NOT unearthing the fierce drive of ambition that grew from practiced perseverance in cold, early morning miles and evening runs in the blazing summer heat. If you are an athlete or an avid active lifestylist, I’m sure you can relate. There are days you don’t want to show up. But you do. You put in the work, you push forward so your desired outcomes are never out of reach.

Let me dive into my own experience, maybe leave me a comment if you feel similarly!

1. Go Out Fast (and Smart)

On the track, I was always the kind of runner who charged out of the blocks with energy to spare. Even to this day, I start every race a little fast, easing into a pace only after getting that “out of the blocks” start.

I do think that same “go out fast” mentality shapes my workday. Mornings are my strongest miles—when I’m most focused, motivated, and ready to tackle big creative challenges. That’s when I write, design, or strategize, the tasks that require the most, freshest bursts of energy.

By afternoon, I’m not chasing PRs anymore. I’m coasting. I save lighter to-dos and routine admin work for that time, knowing my pace is naturally easing. It’s not about sprinting all day, but moreso about aligning effort with energy. Knowing that smaller tasks fit better into my calendar after 2pm helps me stay productive.

2. Fuel Determines the Finish

Any runner knows the wrong pre-workout fuel, or skipping food altogether, can derail an entire workout. It screams “unproductivity” louder than your rude Garmin watch, spewing unsolicitated opinions about your 20 mile run.

The same is true for creative work. If I dive into a big article or meeting without proper preparation, it feels like trying to run a tough tempo workout on an empty stomach.

Fuel, in business, isn’t just food. It’s organization, prep work, and mental readiness. Outlining key points before a meeting, reviewing brand materials before a design project, or simply setting my priorities for the day in my planner (because I’m a paper and pen girly)… it all gives me the foundation to perform at my best throughout the entire day.

3. Gear Can Make or Break the Day

Runners obsess over shoes, watches, and even hair ties for a reason: the right gear can elevate a workout, while the wrong gear can sabotage it. If I try to hold this thick mop of hair up with one dainty hair tie, good luck staying focues and keeping those strands out of my face/off my neck as I try to focus on kicking it to the finish line. And show up for a long run in your Rainsbows, forget it.

Entrepreneurship kinda works the same way.

For me, gear looks like a ready laptop, a notebook for scribbling ideas, and, let’s be honest, a strong cup of coffee. If one of those is missing, my focus kinda just slips.

Just like I wouldn’t start intervals without lacing up my Novablasts, I don’t start a project without my essentials.

4. The Marathon Mindset for Big Projects

Training for a marathon isn’t just about race day, it’s the LONG months of long runs, structured workouts, and careful planning that make the finish line possible. All those Saturday morning long runs lasting anywhere from 3-4 hours take a great deal of commitment and dedication, planning and preparation.

The same is true for my big projects in business.

When I take on a website copy overhaul, a brand photoshoot, or a strategy presentation, I approach it with the same structure as a training cycle. There’s the early groundwork including research, outlines, mood boards. I think of them like base mileage. Then I shift into the “workouts,” where I push into the harder creative lifts. And finally, the taper: refining, editing, tightening before the big launch or presentation.

Just like running, big projects aren’t about sheer willpower alone. They’re about building something that you’re proud of. Something that drives success and makes forward momentum inevitable.

The Big Picture

Whether I’m running laps or typing away at my Macbook, success comes down to the same things: pacing, fueling, and having the right tools. Athletics taught me how to honor energy cycles, prepare for the unpredictable, and respect the power of small details.

Work, like running, is less about sprinting endlessly and more about creating a rhythm you can sustain. The track gave me discipline. Entrepreneurship gave me purpose. Together, they’ve taught me how to run my own race on and off the clock.

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