They say a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint

Katy W. Kesler

Ph.D. Candidate in the Abuelo Lab

What they don’t say is that it’s not just the length of the race that makes it brutal. What they don’t tell you is that you’ll design the perfect training plan—one that should set you up for success on race day—and the only time it will look perfect is before you actually start.

You will train in all conditions: early in the morning, late at night, in unprecedented weather, on weekends, even on holidays. You’ll have to say no to plans because you need to run or because you have to be up early to train. Some days, you won’t fuel properly, you’ll forget to hydrate, or the track will be crowded with people who don’t share your pace. And through it all, you’ll have to run.

You will face hills. Some will be small and easy to conquer. Others will push you to your limits, teaching you hard-earned lessons. And sometimes, you won’t be able to see the top.  
But you’ll also get to run downhill—to feel the joy of a little extra speed, to catch your breath after the climb. 

Some runs will be perfect: the sun shining just right, the weather ideal, the route familiar, giving you a much-needed win. But sometimes, you will fail. You’ll have to walk. You’ll plan the wrong route, get injured, or face conditions that are too hot, too cold, or too rainy. You’ll question why you’re doing this. Continuing will seem impossible. You will want to give up—and some people might.  
But if you can, I encourage you to keep going. Keep placing one foot in front of the other, and you will cross the finish line. When you do, you’ll look back in awe—at how far you’ve come, how hard you worked, how many challenges you overcame. You’ll feel gratitude for your coaches, friends, and training partners. You’ll feel pride in accomplishing a goal you once only dreamed about.

Everything I just wrote is true about running. And everything I just said is also true about doing a PhD. Here’s to finishing the race. 🏃‍♀️