In recent months, I’ve been pushing myself hard, especially in my 5km time trials. And it’s paying off—I can now run them about 4 minutes faster than I could at the start of the year.

When I’m honest about it, I have to admit that, in general, working hard sucks. It’s tough to always be up by 4:30 so I can hit the road early enough to be at my desk in time for my workday to start. It’s hard to keep at it consistently. When I then add extra pressure on myself to push even harder during a time trial, it’s exhausting and leaves me tired for days. Yet I can’t stop smiling when things work out as planned. The benefits must outweigh the tiredness, as it’s not just about feeling happy.

Here’s why I do it:

• It lets me dream and imagine achieving goals I never thought possible.
• I learn to face my fear of failing. Every time I start a time trial, I’m nervous—I want to do well; I don’t want to fail.
• Dealing with setbacks or runs that don’t go as planned teaches me resilience. I’ve come to accept that progress can never be linear.
• Every time I push myself harder, I grow a little more.
• I figure out what I need when I’m working hard—focus, distraction, or breaks.
• Achieving or even surpassing my goals feels amazing. Nothing beats that feeling.
• I find out who supports me and cheers me on.
• I decipher how to support myself—when no one is cheering me on or waiting for me at the finish line.
• Most importantly, it boosts my confidence—I believe more in what I can do.

Have you ever pushed yourself way out of your comfort zone to a place you never dreamed possible? What was it like for you?