Here’s the truth, friend: the average time is boring. It’s a number on a spreadsheet. What isn’t boring is your story. The reason you pinned on a bib. The playlist you made. The way you cried when you saw the finish line, or the way you belched dramatically at the water station.
Whether you cross the finish line in 3:45 or 6:15, you have done something extraordinary. You took 26.2 miles of pavement, trail, or sheer will, and you conquered it. The clock stops, but the memory doesn’t.
So, the real average time for a marathon runner? It doesn’t exist. Because every single person who crosses that line is above average at being a badass. Now go sign up. Your average is waiting to be awesome. And don’t forget the donuts.
