I ran the London Marathon last month, and it was more than just a test of endurance, it was a masterclass in project management. Months of preparation, planning, risk management, and disciplined execution went into crossing that finish line. As I reflected, I realised that the journey wasn’t just about running, it was about planning, resilience, and good management. The parallels are striking and span every phase, from vision to execution. Training for a marathon requires the same mindset, discipline, and structure as delivering a successful project.
In this article, I’ll share five key project management lessons I observed from marathon training, which are equally applicable to achieving successful project outcomes. Keep reading to discover how a marathon can teach you about project management more than you might expect.
1. Vision and Conception: Every Project Starts with a Dream
Every project begins with a vision—a conception of what you want to achieve. For me, the idea of running the London Marathon had lived in my mind for years.
- Just like any successful project, a marathon begins with a vision.
- I had aspired to run the London Marathon for many years.
- Despite several unsuccessful ballot entries, I kept training.
- I committed to near daily running including running a half marathon every month to maintain fitness and stamina for long distance run.
- This long-term commitment, even without a confirmed goal, is much like laying foundational groundwork in a project’s early phases—ensuring that when the opportunity arises, you’re ready to move.
Project parallel:
- Similarly, a strong project begins with a compelling vision, one that drives persistence even when early attempts fall short.
- Having a vision alone isn’t enough, sustained preparation (see the first edition of this newsletter for more on the importance of adequate preparation in projects); and
- Persistence are crucial to making it a reality.
2. Planning and Design: Creating a Realistic Roadmap
When I was notified of being successful in the ballot into the marathon in July last year, I moved into the planning phase—much like the early stages of any project.
- I developed a training plan that mapped out the months leading up to the race.
- This mirrors the phased approach in projects—initiating, building, refining, and preparing for launch. Along the way, adjustments were essential.
- The training plan included distinct phases:
- Early phase: Gradually building endurance by increasing the distance of my runs.
- Middle phase: Increasing frequency and intensity of these long runs
- Final phase: Completing longer distances (two-thirds and three-quarters marathons), followed by tapering.
- I also planned nutrition including getting used to my energy gel, using the correct footwear, and optimal training times (I prefer very early morning runs but I had to incorporate some mid-morning runs, to mirror the start time on race day.
Project parallel:
- In any successful project, a robust and adaptable plan is essential.
- Just as with my marathon preparation, effective project planning involves establishing clear phases, outlining deliverables, timelines, and key milestone.
- It should also involve comprehensive preparation that ensures all critical aspects such as resources, tools, and technique are incorporated.
- Plans should evolve and be refined as new information emerges and as you move closer to delivery.
3. Execution and Monitoring: Following Through with Flexibility
The best-laid plans can falter without proper implementation. But execution isn’t passive—it requires active monitoring and control. Even the best plans require focused execution and adaptability.
- I stayed committed to the training plan but remained flexible when needed.
- I monitored my progress and reviewed weekly goals.
- I adjusted when necessary:
- Recovered from missed runs.
- Altered training times for better results.
- Reassessed diet, sleep, and motivation levels.
Project parallel:
- Like in any project, execution requires consistent monitoring and corrective action to bring the project back on track (see my book for more information on monitoring and control).
- Plans rarely go exactly as expected, and the ability to adapt is key.
- Adapting includes regularly measuring progress against key performance metrics, proactive issue resolution, adaptive problem solving using real-time data; and
- Effective stakeholder communication to maintain clear information and ensure alignment.
4. Risk Management: Staying Safe, Healthy, and Prepared
Proactively managing risks was essential for a smooth training journey and successful race day.
- I avoided overtraining to reduce the risk of injury.
- Incorporated stretching and recovery routines into my schedule.
- Chose safe running routes and wore high-visibility gear during darker hours.
- Tested energy gels and hydration strategies ahead of time.
Project parallel:
- Projects inevitably face risks, whether financial, political, or technical.
- Identifying and managing them early can prevent failure and improve outcomes.
5. The Finish Line: Delivering the Outcome
Marathon day itself mirrored a go-live, launch or commissioning day in an IT project, marketing campaign, or an infrastructure build respectively.
Just like in those scenarios, the success of the day isn’t down to luck, it’s the result of months (or even years) of preparation, planning, risk management, and disciplined execution.
Crossing the finish line was not just a personal triumph—it was the culmination of structured planning, disciplined execution, and resilience.
- The journey from ballot acceptance to race day reflected the same challenges and wins as most projects.
- It reinforced the value of sticking to a vision, trusting the process, and staying adaptable to change.
Project Parallel:
- Delivering a project is the final step in a long journey of vision, planning, and execution.
- This journey to the finish line in a project involves Go-Live preparation to ensuring all final checks are completed
- Controlled launch to minimise risks
- Performance Monitoring to identify and resolve any immediate issues
- Celebration and reflection to identify lessons learned for future projects.
- Just like crossing the finish line in a marathon, a successful project launch is the reward (look at my finish line photo and the emotion on all the runners), for preparation, perseverance, and adaptability.
Just like crossing the finish line in a marathon, where every runner’s face tells a story of effort and triumph, a successful project launch is the ultimate reward for preparation, perseverance, and adaptability.
Final Reflection
The experience of training for and running this marathon reaffirmed that whether you’re pursuing a personal goal or delivering a professional initiative, success comes down to vision, structure, flexibility, and consistent effort. In essence, whether you’re building a bridge or running 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres) in this analogy, the principles of success are similar.
By Professor Yakubu Olawale