Chasing My Dream, Crossing the Line
Have you ever had a dream—something you’ve always wanted to do but hesitated to pursue, afraid you might fail? Or perhaps you were too afraid to share, worried you may not succeed. For me, that dream was running the Berlin Marathon. Two years ago, I put it on my vision board and called it my “Wildly Improbable Dream.” It wasn’t just about the race—it was about pushing my limits and proving that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
In September this year, my dream came true. At the age of 56, I ran through the streets of Berlin in one of the largest marathons in the world. The joy on my face tells the story! Every photo along the route shows a beaming smile, no matter how tired I felt. But dreams aren’t supposed to be easy. As Kahlil Gibran said, “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” The resilience it took to keep going when the road got tough made this dream even more meaningful.
Here are the lessons I learned from chasing my dream:
The first step was knowing why I wanted to do this. Sure, I wanted to test my limits, but it was more than that. This dream allowed me to combine all my greatest loves: running, travelling, and learning. Along the way, I explored beautiful cities across Europe, learned new recipes at Toscana Saporita in Tuscany, and took in the sights of Italy—a true celebration of everything that brings me joy.
Small steps, big gains
The secret to success? Consistency. I learned from Atomic Habits that improving by just 1% every day adds up to being 37 times better over time. So, I stuck to my running schedule, rain or shine. I consistently got up early and pushed through tough days—even when life tried to get in the way.
Setbacks aren’t stop signs
Of course, setbacks happen. After Covid, I had complications with my heart rate that I monitored closely throughout training. And getting into the marathon wasn’t easy either. After trying and failing to register through the organisers, the lottery, travel agents, and charities, I nearly gave up. But my support group encouraged me to try one last time, and miraculously, a spot opened, and I finally got my chance.
Your support system is everything
The night before the marathon, fear crept in. I was nervous—what if I couldn’t do it? But then came the messages from my sons, Josh and Ryan, and from my friends and Gabi, all cheering me on. Their encouragement made such a difference. As I stood at the starting line, tears in my eyes, I knew I wasn’t doing this alone. Their support carried me, step by step.
Have fun
When the whistle blew, I reminded myself of something important—I wasn’t just here to run; I was here to enjoy every minute. I kept my pace steady, only walking through the water stations, and savoured every moment. That feeling of joy and pride has stuck with me since.
One dream leads to another
Achieving a wildly improbable dream gives you a sense of limitless possibility. Once you’ve crossed that finish line, it feels like no challenge is too great, no goal too far out of reach. You start believing that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
So, what would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail? Chase your wildly improbable dream with all your heart!
dino
“The fears we don’t face become our limits”(Robin Sharma)
Admire your determination
Bravo Kim
Margaret
Kim, I am so proud of you. Congratulations on your fabulous achievement. It was hard work but you did it! You must feel absolutely wonderful.
Sandy Backman
Well done, Kim. Congratulations on your wonderful achievement!! I can relate to how you must have felt.
I was in my forties when I ran my first Comrades. Two months before the race, I did a training run of 60 km with some runners and at the end I decided I will never finish 90km at Comrades and may as well give up the idea. But with consistent training and support from other runners and non-running friends, I did do it!! Something I will never ever forget as you won’t forget your Berlin marathon. One is on a high that is difficult to explain.
Jeff
Amazing achievement Kim. You have a right to be ultra proud of yourself
Melanie Maree.
Well done Kim what an amazing achievement.!!!
Marian Hollander
Well Done Kim – a really wonderful achievement.. You are a true inspiration !!