My high school friends decided over dinner in February that “We should all do the Mini Marathon!”. I quickly said yes, as I have always wanted to do the race, but haven’t made it happen. So before I could overthink it, I jumped in. Just like that, I was committed to 13.1 miles through downtown Indianapolis, my first real race since… well, honestly since I finished the Chicago Marathon in 2015… and my first race since becoming a mom. Running a marathon as a mom brings a whole new set of tasks to navigate, but I was up for a challenge!
Why I said yes before I felt ready
Here’s the thing about being a mom in business — you get really good at saying yes before you’re ready. When my friends asked about the Mini, I hadn’t run consistently in months. When clients book brand sessions, half of them tell me they “just need to lose a few pounds first” or want to wait until they feel more confident. But readiness is a moving target.
I registered for the Mini the same way I started my photography business — before I felt completely prepared. Because if I’d waited until I felt ready for either, I’d still be waiting.
Training for and running a marathon as a mom means runs at dusk after feeding my family dinner, or squeezing in miles during school pickup gaps. It’s not Instagram-pretty training… it’s real life training. Some days I get my full run in. Some days I get 30 minutes on the walking pad. Progress isn’t always linear, and that’s okay.
The reps that actually matter
Running a marathon as a mom taught me that consistency beats perfection every single time. A twenty-minute run three times a week will get you further than one perfect long run followed by two weeks off. Business is exactly the same.
Those brand sessions I shoot? They’re reps. Every time I help a client figure out what to wear, every time I guide someone through posing who’s never been in front of a professional camera, every time I edit until a photo truly captures who they are — that’s practice that compounds.
My clients often apologize for not having it all figured out before we shoot. But the magic happens in the doing, not in the preparing. You don’t wait until you’re a perfect runner to start training for a marathon. You start training to become the runner who can finish 13.1 miles.
Running through my old stomping grounds
The Mini course runs right through the IUPUI campus, where I spent my college years. There’s something kind fun about literally running through the place where I first ventured out on my own in the world. And then we’ll hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the real reason everyone runs this race! Kissing those famous bricks at the finish line, the same bricks that champions have kissed for decades. It’s corny and I absolutely cannot wait.
The track represents something I’ve learned in business: there are moments that mark the before and after. Sometimes it’s booking your first client. Sometimes it’s the day you realize you’re not just taking pictures — you’re helping women show up as themselves. Sometimes it’s literally running across a finish line you weren’t sure you’d reach.
What showing up looks like in real life
Training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon has reminded me that showing up isn’t always pretty, but it’s always worth it. Some runs feel strong and smooth. Others are a slog from mile one. Some brand sessions flow effortlessly. Others require more coaching, more patience, more problem-solving. Both kinds matter.
The women I work with are doing their own version of marathon training — building businesses that matter, creating content that connects, showing up consistently even when it feels hard. They book sessions not because they feel perfectly ready, but because they’re ready to be ready.
That’s what I love about this work. I get to be part of the moment when someone stops waiting and starts showing up. When they realize that confidence isn’t a prerequisite — it’s a result!
Whether you’re training for your first half marathon or building a business that feels bigger than anything you’ve done before, the principle is the same: start before you’re ready, show up consistently, and trust that the reps will add up to something you’re proud of.
Ready to stop waiting and start showing up for your business? Let’s create a brand session that captures exactly who you are right now — no waiting required. Book your discovery call and we’ll map out a content strategy that works as hard as you do!
The finish line is just the beginning
As I cross that finish line with my high school friends (probably crying happy tears and definitely ready for a Diet Coke and a donut) I will know the real victory isn’t the 13.1 miles or kissing the bricks. It’s every training run I went on. Every mile I logged when I didn’t feel like it. Every day I chose to keep training instead of making excuses.
The same goes for showing up in your business. The real win isn’t the perfect website launch or the viral post. It’s showing up consistently for your people, even when the algorithm feels impossible and the self-doubt is loud. It’s choosing to be visible even when you don’t feel ready. It’s putting in the reps that nobody sees so you can deliver the results that everybody remembers.
Running a marathon as a mom taught me that we’re stronger than we think we are, and we’re ready before we feel ready. Your business deserves the same energy you’d put into training for a big race — consistent action, trust in the process, and the willingness to start before you have it all figured out.
Ready to show up for your brand the way you’d show up for race day? Let’s create content that captures your business at its strongest.Reach out and let’s book your session — no marathon training required!
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