Pursue Discomfort: First Half Marathon and the Road to Growth

Thirteen point one miles—once an unthinkable distance for me—now a reality. I didn’t break any speed records. My legs ached. My feet hurt. But what matters most is this: I finished.

And I never would’ve believed this was possible one short year ago.

A journey fueled by willpower:

When I began my weight loss journey, I wasn’t chasing medals or miles—I just wanted my life back. I was tired of feeling stuck in a body that didn’t reflect who I really was. I knew I needed change, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I was comfortable. I made a home in comfort and it was killing me. To reclaim my health, I had to abandon comfort. To grow I had to do hard things, uncomfortable things.

Discomfort has a bad reputation:

We’re trained to avoid it—whether it’s the ache of sore muscles, the sting of hunger when you’re trying to eat better, or the vulnerability that comes with stepping into something new. For most of my life, I saw discomfort as a warning sign: “Turn back. Too hard. Not for you.”

But that perspective cost me…

If your goal doesn’t challenge you—if it doesn’t stretch your limits or carry the risk of failure—can you even call it a goal?

When I choose my next challenge, I look for what scares me. I chase the things that seem outrageous, the kind of goals that make the average person say, “You’re insane for even trying that.”

That’s my signal. That’s how I know I’m on the right path.

Because real growth lives in discomfort. And the real journey is the pursuit of it.

It must be hard. It must be intimidating. It must feel impossible.

That’s the pursuit of discomfort. That’s where transformation begins.

Why a Half Marathon?

I chose to run a half marathon because it made me uncomfortable. There was pressure—a time limit. The heat was relentless under the harsh June sun. And I wasn’t sure I was ready. Honestly it kind of scared me.

A year ago— I struggled to climb just a flight of stairs. Now— here I am, standing shoulder to shoulder with other athletes at the starting line of a half marathon. How did I get here? The pursuit of discomfort. That was the path!

Discipline > Motivation:

Discipline is what gets you out the door when motivation fades. It’s what brings you through mile 10 when your legs want to quit. And it’s what carried me all the way to the finish line.

This half marathon reminded me that you don’t need to be the fastest—you just need the will to keep going. And sometimes, that’s more powerful than anything.

The intentional mindset to pursue discomfort is built on the foundation of discipline.

By mile 8, my knees were screaming. By mile 11, my heels were aching. My body wanted to stop. But discomfort wasn’t something to escape anymore—it was something to pursue. Every step in pain reminded me: this is where growth happens. This is the part most people avoid. This is when the ordinary person quits. But we are not ordinary anymore!

Running 13.1 miles was never just about the miles. It was about proving to myself that I’m no longer afraid of struggle. That I’ve earned every step of this new life. That I can do hard things—not in spite of the pain, but because of it.

Whether your finish line is losing your first 10 pounds or running your first mile, just take the first step—and then another. Progress will come. The impossible will become your new normal.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next?

This half marathon is just a checkpoint, not a finish line. My journey continues with more races ahead, including a 50 mile ultramarathon in the fall. But more than that, it continues with a commitment to live each day with purpose, to push through limits, and to inspire others to do the same.

If you’re reading this and you’re somewhere in the middle of your own fight—don’t give up. Lace up. Show up. Keep going.

Because the strongest muscle you’ll ever train is your willpower.

Losing weight, getting healthy, chasing fitness goals—it’s all rooted in one principle:

—Pursue discomfort—

Andrew Frizzell | Iron Will Weight Loss