Failing fast: Reflections from my failed Marathon Month attempt

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I've been attending Orangetheory classes every weekend since January. Each class I attend includes a treadmill exercise. In the several months that I have been attending classes, I progressed from power-walking (fastest pace at 3.5 mph) to jogging (fastest pace at 5.0 mph)

I decided to join the Marathon Month challenge and run/jog the half-marathon. If I run/jog at least 1.7 miles per class, I'd be able to complete the half-marathon distance. And so I kept signing up for the 2G classes or the Tread 50 classes (i.e., 50-minute treadmill-only workouts). 

After the challenge ended, I found out that I had only reached a little over 10 miles. I did not finish the half-marathon. My first reaction was to avoid joining future Orangetheory challenges. As I wallowed in disappointment, I justified not participating by focusing on my primary objective for signing up for classes: improving my overall cardiac health by losing weight, burning fat, and building muscle. I was very disappointed with my performance.


Sinukat ngunit kulang. (I ended up short)

However, as I picked myself up from the initial disappointment, I realised that the 10 miles I completed taught me more than the 13.1 (that I didn't reach) ever could. The most important lesson that I apply to life outside Orangetheory is seeing failure as feedback.

I reviewed my class results and saw that in most of my treadmill classes, my base pace was 3 mph. To complete 13.1 miles in the number of classes I attend per month, I needed a base pace of at least 3.4 mph. This means that I should be able to maintain a heart rate of 71–83% of my max heart rate for 20–30 minutes. Maybe it was time to increase my base pace; after all, I was finding 3 mph to be relatively easy to maintain at that point. If I didn't fail the half-marathon, I wouldn't even think about my base pace! As a result, I started observing my jogging gait, posture, and breathing more closely while on the treadmill in subsequent classes. 

  • Was I landing on my heels or at my midfoot? 
  • Was I bending my knees enough or keeping them too straight during my jogs? 
  • As I increased my base pace, was my heart rate zooming up or holding at 71–83% of my max heart rate?

Outside Orangetheory, I apply a similar approach in troubleshooting. For example, I see non-compliance with a laboratory procedure not as a failure but as feedback to leadership. 

  • Is the instruction explicit enough for staff to follow? 
  • What training needs or support do staff need to help them achieve compliance? 
  • How do I provide feedback to encourage improvement?
Do I like failing? No. I just learned to accept it as an indicator of growth opportunities. 

Don't let failure derail you. Learn from it. Grow using the lessons learned. And jog faster.  

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