What You Can Learn from John Plata, Last Place Marathon Finisher

Your career is like a marathon, but not in the way you think.

Well, actually yes, in the way that you think– it’s long so pace yourself, sure. But your career is like a marathon in another way too.

When I was 20 and a junior in college, I signed up on a whim and joined the marathon training team. The next day at 530 am, I met the team for a 3 mile run as the start a six-month training program. Throughout the training, I had minor injuries and set-backs. So I wasn’t sure if I was going to hit the pace that I had set for myself.

The week before the marathon, our coach sat us down and gave us some advice that I’ll never forget. She said that we’ll never win the race. No one is even close to running a sub two hour marathon. It’s not why we signed up. And the good news is that none of us will finish in last either. There will be grandparents and kids and people walking dogs and disabled runners. They’re not in it the same way you are. They’re running their own race.

This year, the NYC Marathon’s final finisher (not loser) was John Plata. He came in 53,516th place with an average pace of 23:48/mile and a total time of 10:23:57.

Thinking about that last place finisher, it’s still an accomplishment. And it should remind everyone why we sign up for marathons in the first place: to accomplish our own goal, to push ourselves past what we thought we were capable of doing, and maybe to just get in better shape. It’s not to win.

Our careers are not so different. You will never outwork the world and “win” work, or be one of the world’s richest or most awarded or accomplished person (sorry). You will very likely not be the last place finisher at work, either. With decades ahead of you, it really is a marathon.

So set some goals, get in shape, commit to the training and prep that goes into it. Define a sustainable pace and go.

It’s also worth noting that John Plata is a 56 year-old deaf runner. He has competed in nearly 50 marathons since 1982. (What’s your excuse?)

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