Lessons from 1,925 Days: Parenting, Persistence, and the Long Game

Today I realised something as I watched my eldest daughter. She’s officially a teenager. It’s one of those milestones that sneaks up on you, even when you’re paying attention every single day. Just like the miles under my feet, the years have a way of compounding until suddenly, the landscape has completely shifted.

Running every day for 1,925 days has taught me a lot about the "middle miles." When I started this mission to run 40,075km, a full lap of the world, the goal felt abstract. Raising £1M for children’s causes felt like a mountain too high to climb. But what I realised on today's run is that the goal isn't just about the finish line; it’s about the person you become while you're trying to reach it.

The lesson for me was about presence. As a business owner and someone managing a complex real estate portfolio, I often find my mind racing ahead to the next system or the next deal. But parenting a teenager requires a different kind of endurance. It’s not a sprint; it’s the ultimate ultra-marathon. You can't automate the connection with your children. You have to show up, lace up, and be there for the miles, even when they’re uphill.

Perspective matters because it anchors you when things get loud. My daughter turning thirteen is a reminder that my time with her in this phase is finite. It reinforces why I run. I’m not just running for my health or for a record; I’m running to show her what it looks like to be committed to something bigger than yourself. Every barefoot-style step is a vote for the type of man and father I want to be.

As I look at the distance remaining to that 40,075km mark, I don't see a burden. I see an opportunity to keep showing up, for the children we are helping through this mission and for my own children watching from the sidelines. Consistency isn't about being perfect; it's about being present.