I ran a 10k this week! It was a virtual 10k, which in no way detracts from my excitement about it, and I was just thirty seconds over the time I wanted to make. It was my first time running this distance, and it brings me one step closer to being the marathon runner that I want to be. As I was completing my training series for the race, my coach, Leah, said something that I’ve been turning over in my head ever since. “Just run your middle miles.”  

The middle point of the race is the hardest. The excitement of the start has worn off. You’re too far from the end to get excited about that and go into the final push. There’s little to no motivation to keep going, and those miles of course feel like the longest miles in the history of the world.  

My mind instantly likened this to the middle section of your book. It’s not the “fun part.” In the beginning of every project, I’m stoked to finally be putting pen to paper. I zoom through the beginning, throwing in all my ideas and the kitchen sink. And nothing flies by faster than the ending of my projects, when I’m careening towards the culmination of everything and putting all the pieces together.  

But dang, those middle miles.  

This is where the hard work happens. This is where you test the limits of your determination and will. Half the battle is knowing, going into it, that it’s probably going to be a little difficult. Determine to settle into the burn, even if you don’t enjoy it. For me, these chapters often feel boring and tedious, even when exciting things are happening. What I’ve come to realize is that when I finish the novel and go back for the first re-read, the chapters don’t feel boring at all. It was all in my head because I was grumpy.  

As long as you’re moving forward, you’re covering good ground. Maybe it’s not perfect, but you can’t perfect it unless it’s on the page. Keep moving forward. This is also when your self-talk comes into play.  

I used to yell at myself when I was struggling and called it motivation. My self-talk was tough love to the max. But running has taught me to speak kinder words to myself, no matter what I’m working on. So now I make a point to encourage myself. I shower myself in compliments. I praise every effort, even if it’s not perfect. The middle miles are hard enough! Don’t make them harder by being hard on yourself.  

Middles are tough. That’s fine. Bring your best effort to them, and give yourself grace if it’s a little messy. But keep writing out one word after another until you’re through.