Half Marathon Reflections: 50th Year of Becoming
Crossing the finish line of my first half marathon in my 50th year wasn’t just about time, though I finished in a time I feel proud of. What stayed with me most was the truth that there are different ways to complete the same journey.
Some set off earlier, some later. Some moved quickly; others paused, rested, then continued again. And isn’t that life? Each of us is on our own path of becoming; our own rhythm, our own pace. Comparing ourselves to others is futile, because we don’t know when they began, what pauses they took, or what burdens they carried. We only know our lane, our journey, our becoming.
Support
I had the blessing of starting out with my children and my siblings, with friends waiting for us at the finish line.
Soon, those who were stronger ran ahead in their own rhythm, and that too is becoming. But what felt most powerful was running side by side with my eldest daughter. A mother-and-daughter moment that words can hardly capture. She was the first person who taught me unconditional love in a different way, and to share this milestone with her, knowing the journey she herself has walked toward better health was extraordinary. Even when her ankle began to ache, she stayed present with me, pacing herself, listening to her body while still moving forward. Her resilience wasn’t about ignoring pain, it was about honouring what she could give in that moment, and choosing to finish with both courage and care.
And then, as we approached the finish line, my youngest daughter was there, cheering us on with all her heart. To be carried forward in that moment by her encouragement, while I was shoulder to shoulder with her eldest sibling, is something I’ll never forget. Along the way, strangers became supporters too, handing out water, clapping encouragement, smiling as if to say, you’ve got this.
Becoming is never solitary. It’s woven from the hands that hold us, the reminders that keep us steady, and even the kindness of people we may never meet again.
Self Love
I moved at my own rhythm. I slowed when my body asked. I surged when my heart was light. I honoured my inhaler because self-love is listening to what keeps us alive and whole.
Self-love means refusing to punish yourself for not sprinting the whole way. It means celebrating every step forward, however it comes.
Some moments looked like strength, others looked like rest, both were necessary, both were valid.
Becoming asks us to treat ourselves with compassion, to accept the pace we are able to move, and to honour our bodies as they are today.
Spirituality
There were moments that felt like ceremony. African drums, Indian drums, chants rising from the roadside. Ancestors in rhythm, strangers in chorus. Every beat reminded me that becoming is more than an individual act; it’s spiritual, cultural, ancestral.
The sound of drumming connected me to something larger than myself: to heritage, to community, to the invisible presence of those who came before. With each stride, I whispered gratitude for breath body, for belonging. The marathon became a prayer in motion, a rhythm of remembrance and renewal.
Security
And throughout, I felt the joy of being secure in the present moment. Not a security rooted in fear, but one rooted in aliveness. In the knowing that becoming can be fast or slow, structured or free, and that presence itself is enough.
There was security in the drumbeats, in the water handed to me by strangers, in the steady steps of my children beside me, and in the love waiting at the finish line.
Security didn’t mean certainty, it meant feeling safe enough to keep moving, however the moment unfolded.
This half marathon was a mirror on life itself; no path is the same, no pace is universal. Some will move quickly, others will pause, and some will carry unseen weights. That’s why it is vital to stay in your own lane, honour your rhythm, and trust your becoming.
Because in the end, the path isn’t measured against others, its the unfolding of the life you’re creating, step-by-step, heart open joy intact.
It’s the realisation I’m exploring with through "Journey To The Ring"; whether running a marathon, stepping into a boxing ring, or painting a canvas, becoming is never about comparison. It’s about choosing your rhythm, honour your path and allowing each stride, each stride, stoke and moment to carry you forward into the life that is waiting.
If this reflection resonates, I’d love to journey further with you. You can download my free SSCS guide, a resource designed to help you weave Support, Self-Love, Spirituality, and Security into your own path of becoming.
Simple enough to ground you in the moment, deep enough to guide your becoming
And as I carry these lessons into my art and my upcoming "Journey to the Ring" project and exhibition, I’ll be sharing more stories of what it means to step forward, create boldly, and keep becoming. Subscribe to my newsletter [Insert link] to be part of that unfolding.
If this reflection on my Big Half journey resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How are you navigating your own becoming? Please share in the comments below.
Love and Light, Infinitely
Amha