Finish what you started 

By Nahrizul Adib Kadri

I started running back in 2011 to shed a few extra kilos. Back then, I never considered myself a real runner—I was just someone trying to get healthier. Yet, somehow and someway, I ended up crossing the finish lines of four marathons, including the Penang Bridge and Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon, and even a couple of ultramarathons.

Today, I still lace up my running shoes, not for the glory of another marathon finisher medal, but simply to keep fit. And every time I hit the pavement, I’m reminded of how running, much like life, is less about speed and more about endurance. 

You see, life, with all its twists and turns, isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon—a long, gruelling journey that tests our resolve, patience, and ability to endure. To truly live, we must embrace not just the thrill of starting but the discipline of finishing. Dreams, relationships, personal growth—all require the same principle:

Finish what you started, because that’s where real triumph lies.

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War offers wisdom that echoes this reality: “Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay the price.” Starting something meaningful is only half the battle; enduring the challenges and seeing it through to the end is what leads to triumph. 

Marathons are uniquely fitting in this analogy because they allow no shortcuts. Once you’re in the race, there’s no turning back. The streets are blocked, the buses don’t run, and taxis (and Grabs!) are nowhere in sight. Fatigue might whisper temptations to quit, but quitting isn’t an option. The only way forward is to finish. 

And life mirrors this in profound ways. When challenges arise, there’s often no easy way out. The path demands that we keep going, even when every fibre of our being wants rest. It’s in these moments, when quitting feels like a siren song, that we grow. Delayed gratification, enduring now for the sake of something greater later, isn’t weakness—it’s a virtue. 

Endurance over instant gratification 

The life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a testament to the strength found in persistence. When he received the message of Islam, the obstacles seemed insurmountable. Persecution, exile, and relentless opposition could have easily stopped him. But the Prophet didn’t waver. His journey from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijrah, was not just a migration but a marathon of faith, resolve, and endurance.

Despite the hardships, he pressed on. The Prophet’s life teaches us that endurance is not about ease; it’s about resilience. His unwavering commitment reminds us that the finish line isn’t always visible, but it’s there for those who persist. 

Modern life, with its promise of instant results, often undermines the value of endurance. Social media, online shopping, same-day deliveries, and on-demand entertainment feed a culture of immediacy and impatience, making the idea of delayed gratification feel almost foreign. But instant rewards are fleeting and transient. True satisfaction—the kind that lasts—comes from the effort and patience of finishing what we start. 

Gratitude also finds its place in endurance. When we commit to the journey, we begin to appreciate every moment, even the difficult ones. In Islam, the concept of shukr (gratitude) teaches us to value what we have and to trust in what lies ahead. Allah reminds us in the Quran, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]” (Surah Ibrahim: 7). 

This gratitude for the present—for the kilometres already covered in a marathon—grounds us. It reminds us that every step forward, no matter how small or painful, is a blessing. Overthinking or lamenting what lies ahead only robs us of the joy of moving forward. 

The price of not finishing 

But what happens when we stop mid-marathon? We’re left stranded, surrounded by blocked streets and an unfinished race. Life is no different. Leaving things undone, whether it’s a project, a relationship, or a personal dream, fills us with a gnawing sense of regret. We lose not just the opportunity for growth but also the confidence that comes from perseverance. 

Sun Tzu warned, “He will win who has prepared himself and waits to take the enemy unprepared.” Life’s challenges are the enemy. Those who endure, who commit to finishing, gain the upper hand. Not because they never faltered, but because they kept going when it mattered most. 

Life’s marathon isn’t about speed; it’s about steady, purposeful movement. Some miles will feel effortless, while others will test the limits of our endurance. The reward lies not just in crossing the finish line but in knowing we gave our all to get there. 

So, as you face your own race, remember this: the roads may be blocked, the buses may be gone, but the path ahead is open. The only way out is through. Perhaps life’s greatest challenge—and its greatest reward—is found in that next step forward. 

In the words of (real) runners everywhere: finish strong. Because that’s what life asks of us.

Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is an associate professor of biomedical engineering and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at nahrizuladib@um.edu.my